2015

5 Things that I Know to be True as an Athlete and Chiropractor

5 Things that I Know to be True as an Athlete and Chiropractor
[caption id="attachment_19870" align="alignleft" width="350"]Tip #1: Mind Your PostureTip #1: Mind Your Posture[/caption]

Humor me while I tap into my inner Oprah and talk about...

#1 - Things I know for certain

#2 - "Ah ha" moments

#3 - One of my new favorite things

As a recreational athlete myself and Chiropractor for 19 years, this is what I know...

5 things that I know to be true based on 19 years as an athlete and chiropractor


 



  1. [caption id="attachment_19868" align="alignright" width="330"]Bad Posture equals bad backFACT: Bad Posture equals bad back[/caption]

    Untrained bodies literally get worn out due to the forces of gravity pulling down and creating compression stress and degeneration of the spine. The force of sitting creates the most stress of sedentary postures.

  2. Athletes who do not strengthen in length and support mobility are at risk of increased spinal degeneration and pain due to impact (ex. Runners), prolonged posturing (ex. Cyclists) or sport specific repetitive motions creating imbalances (ex. Hockey players).

  3. Similar patterns appear in both the untrained and the athlete: tight and weak hip flexors, shortened and weakened hamstrings and kyphotic or flexed thoracic spines with tight pectoral muscles.

  4. Recreated joint mobility via chiropractic adjustments, tissue mobility practices(yoga, disciplined stretching, foam rolling, soft tissue manual therapy) and core exercises that strengthen in length (plank and not sit-ups) help reduce compression forces, maximize mobility and allow people to live with less discomfort and/or limitations in their sport.

  5. Foundation Training is created to be simple, profound exercises that can be incorporated into any lifestyle to build effective postural muscles and retrain our movement patterns to lower the destructive, compression forces of sport and life.


[caption id="attachment_19864" align="alignright" width="341"]Foundation training Book - buy hereFoundation Training: Redefine Your Core, Conquer Back Pain, and Move with Confidence[/caption]

Foundation Training - my " Ah ha " moment


Many "Ah ha" moments in my personal injury management and career of helping patients happen to be incorporated into Foundation Training.  I wish I were smart enough to have put it all together so brilliantly.

Dr. Eric Goodman is the doctor who has created the focused, approachable, do anywhere/anytime set of exercises all focused on bringing length back to the tissues and the body, all focused on retraining muscles that support us, not compress us, and all focused on changing movement patterns so the body's organic motions are restored.

Here's one of many "Foundation Training" videos, which details " Prone Decompression "

"Spinal Hygiene" is one of my new favorite things


https://youtu.be/vmhu-yZGY_A

Think of it as daily spinal hygiene; as important and effective as daily teeth brushing.

We can't get away from sitting and we don't want to stop playing hockey or doing a triathlon so here we have a powerful tool that will allow us to do what we are called to do but with less pain, more grace and more confidence.

Maybe you know that you resonate with what I have said, had an "Ah ha" moment of your own, and will find a new favorite thing for yourself.  I hope so.

[box type="note" align="" class="" width=""]PS searching Dr Goodman and Foundation Training on You Tube will bring you to more information and even explained exercises. Resources (books and videos) as well as certified Foundation Trainers can be found through the Foundation Training website.[/box]

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angela macdonald dc bio picAuthor Bio:


Dr. Angela Macdonald DC owns Partners In Health Chiropractic and Massage Therapy in Maple Ridge, BC.  If she has anything to do with it, the masses will understand how posture and mobility help us feel better, look better, play better and even live longer.  Because her hope is that everyone lives this way; presently and fully, she created of The Posture Project as her soap box.  Gather round. Be sure to connect with her on her Facebook page and tweet with her on Twitter.
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