Perfect Pushup Form

Push ups are a common exercise that everyone should master. When performed properly, the push-up is excellent for sculpting arms, and strengthening the chest, and commonly overlooked: toning and strengthening your core!   Proper push-up form Position your hands slightly wider than your shoulders with your index fingers pointed straight ahead. Look down in between your palms to keep your neck in neutral Engage your core by drawing your navel deep toward your spine. Maintain a neutral spine and lower your body until your shoulders are level with your elbows and squeeze your abs even deeper as you push up. Tip for finding a neutral spine: place a dowel rod along your spine. It should touch 3 places: Back of your head In between your shoulder blades Tailbone While maintaining about a hands-width space between the stick and your low back. Common mistakes Placing hands too close READ MORE

Can’t Touch Your Toes? Find and Fix the Problem

Stand with your feet together. Keep your knees locked. Slowly bend forward and touch your toes. Can you reach them?If not, that means your hamstrings are too tight and you should stretch them right? Wait. Not so fast!!!  Just because your hamstrings may feel tight, doesn’t mean that they need stretching or that they are the reason that you can’t touch your toes. There may be many different reasons you can’t touch your toes. Let’s take a look! The STANDING TOE TOUCH (“multi-segmental flexion”) is one of the 7 fundamental movement patterns that we test during our physical therapy evaluations at Athletes’ Therapist. How to perform the test: Stand with your feet together Keep your knees locked Slowly Bend forward and touch your toes Can you touch your toes? Can you touch them without pain or compensation? Either you CAN touch your toes: This READ MORE

2022-09-17T11:14:48-05:00Physical Therapy|

How To Prevent Low Back Pain

HOW TO PREVENT LOW BACK PAIN GLUTEN FREE - DAIRY FREE Low back pain is a prevalent problem in the United States and around the world.  It is a condition that encompasses our lives when it happens and something we forget about all together when it is gone. And 80% of all adult Americans will experience low back pain at some point in their lifetime.  Many of these low back pains are short-lived, lasting less than 6 weeks.  But the impact the low back pain has on us is significant enough to impact our daily activities, our exercise regimens, and our ability to sleep.  Interesting enough, that only 7% of Americans that seek medical intervention are given a referral to another professional who specializes in low back pain.  That means that 93% of you who go to a doctor are not given a referral to READ MORE