Eugene Movement Center

Hey everybody, this post is for LMTs in Oregon. I am teaching a class on Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques in June in Bend. Please let anyone interested that it is 16 live hours for only $295! Thanks, Andy

Oregon, June 8 - 9, 2019 - Freedom From Pain Institute Our goal is to enhance your skills, improve your results, and build your practice to a level of excellence that goes beyond the standard expectation of what can be achieved through traditional bodywork training. Be prepared for outstanding results, even with long standing chronic conditions!

Muscle tightness or Neural Inhibition?

Sometimes we are tight because our muscles or joints are bound up and sometimes we are neurologically inhibited. Here is a quick was to tell the difference.

This is a technique I use with clients and myself called Contrast Breathing. It is a neurological reset that can quickly increase muscle length.

Pick any stretch you want and then tighten your entire body at the end range and then hold your breath for 5 seconds. Then let the air out like a ballon that burst and let yourself ease into your new range of motion. Repeat this with the same stretch until you don't get any more range. Once you hit the end of progress, stop and passively stretch through the new range of motion.

The neurologic system is like a protective parent. It will only let your joints go as far as it feels that it control over. If you let it know it is in control, it will let you move to new ranges of motion.

Foam rolling for low back pain.

Many people that I see trying to self treat the low back with a foam roller use it to treat the anatomy and not the functional way that the body moves. Most muscles of the trunk run diagonally from the spine out to the sides and not head to toe.

An important area to treat is the thoracolumbar fascia between the bottom rib and the top of the hip and the adjacent quadratus lumborum (QL), internal and external obliques. In the gait cycle, the hips and the ribs swivel in opposite directions and if this are is very tight or restricted, motion will be limited from the center out.

Much of pain is perceived by nociceptors which are free nerve endings. They are normally inactive and are only alerted by stimulation from mechanical, chemical, or thermal irritation. They are non-adapting and will continue to fire until the stimulus is removed or reduced. Increased fascial density will constantly cause these nociceptors to be stimulated evoking pain.

Most people tend to be tighter on the left side. Functionally, the common compensatory pattern is side-bent left of the lumbar spine and right rotation of the pelvis. This also means most people are stuck in left swing phase and right stance phase. The result is weak glut medius and minimus on the left side. The QL then is generally overactive on the left trying to stabilize the hip in stance phase. Below is a sequence I use and give clients who have low back pain because of this.

#1 Place the roller above the hip bone and below the lowest rib by lying on your side.

#2 Flex the bottom hip and knee to 90 degrees, and the top knee to 90 degrees. Stack the hands and inhale

#3 As you exhale, press the top knee into the ground or over a pillow to stabilize the hip and rotate the body to the opposite side and repeat.

#4 Shows the anatomy of the area. The big white mass around the low back is the limbo-thoracic fascia.

Be cautious of using this if you have lumbar instability or and spinal disc problems.

Functional Mechanics of the Peroneus Longus. Ankle rehab, prehab and activating the spring system of the foot.

Standard kinesiology says that the peroneus longus plantar flexes and everts the foot. This is functionally not what is does, however. It's primary function is to slow down the force of gravity as the foot comes crashing into the ground, absorb that force, and hold the foot on the ground as the knee and hip extend.

Functionally, it eccentrically loads as the forefoot enters the ground and decelerates dorsiflexion of the first ray (joint of the first metatarsal and middle cuneiform) and holds it on the ground for push-off of the big toe. Also, it decelerates dorsiflexion of the ankle, midtarsal joint inversion, and subtler joint eversion.

Picture 1 shows the muscle origin and insertion

Picture 2 shows the neutral foot. Notice how the heel bone (calcaneus) is not sitting directly under the leg but off to the outside.

Picture 3 shows how, in foot strike, this orientation allows the foot to pronate, load the posterior calf muscle, and absorb gravity to unload into propulsion.

Picture 4 shows a foam rolling technique to release this important muscle of the foot spring system. This muscle can be particularly sore right below the outside bump below the knee (the head of the fibula).

Self treating this muscle is a great way to prevent injuries and maximize ankle performance prior to working out.

3rd USAT Triathlon recertification. Check out the website for Running and Triathlon consulting services under the Triaction Potential link. www.eugenemovementcenter.com

Functional Mechanics of the Pelvis during the gait cycle.

Picture 1 shows a neutral pelvis. This hardly ever occurs as most people have some rotation of the ilium or torsion of the sacrum.

Picture 2 shows the left ilium in stance phase or just prior to push-off and the right ilium in swing phase just prior to heal strike. The left ilium is anteriorly rotated, outflared, and, depressed. The left side of the sacrum is right side-bent and rotated right (Type 2 mechanics). The right ilium is posteriorly rotated, inflared, and elevated. The right sacrum is side-bent right, rotated right.

Picture 3 shows the opposite with the left SI joint closing down and the right one opening up.

These mechanics have a direct effect on the lumbar spine and need to be taken into account when addressing it. Assess and then drive them with the types of treatment and restorative protocols that you use. Leg positions and arm movement are extremely important in doing this.

According to Phillip Greenman DO, 95% of flexed sacral lesions happen on the left side. This is also called "Left on Left" sacral torsion or commonly "Mall Back" from too much shopping. Result is left low back pain, right front hip pain, and right lateral knee pain. It is not a strength problem. The glutes may show up as asymmetrically weak but it is a dynamic positioning problem. Reposition the pelvis before strengthening the glutes.

New for 2014 is a Customer Appreciation Program. Refer a friend and receive $15 off your next appt.

My favorite single leg stance pattern drills from FMS Level 2 clinic.

Squat training with K1 vibrating platform. Great for working through problems with the squatting pattern.

Sports Massage on Achilles Tendinitis.