This past week, I had the pleasure of reviewing Craig Liebenson’s new 3 DVDs. These are a precursor to his Functional Training Handbook that will be coming out in early 2012. The book is a must have as the line-up of co-authors is out of this world. I had the privilege of being asked to contribute to this book and was floored by the request. I’m very excited to be able to take a look at the final product when it comes out.
Back to the DVDs…Dr. Liebenson is one of the leading specialists when it comes to back pain and resolving this troublesome issue that so many people experience. He has been published on numerous occasions as well as being asked to speak at a number of worldwide events. He has a great blog that you can follow here.
His new DVDs are Core Stability Training DVD, Flexibility, Yoga Training and Ergonomic Postural Advice DVD, and Functional Performance DVD. These 3 are quite different but similar at the same time. All three give you insight in Dr. Liebenson’s thought process when it comes to restoring health, improving flexibility, improving posture and improving performance. The exercises that Dr. Liebenson shows cover everything from breathing assessments, to core stability training and even plyometric training. The progressions are well thought out and give the viewer exercises that they can include into their current clients and athletes programs immediately. The best part of this DVD set is that Dr. Liebenson just doesn’t show you the exercises, but common errors, what to look for and teaches you why they should not be left out in your programs.
I recommend these to any athletic trainer, physical therapist, strength and conditioning coach and personal trainer looking to give those that they work with every opportunity to become better.
You can pick them up at the following links:
Functional Performance Training DVD
Flexibility, Yoga Training, and Ergonomic Postural Advice DVD
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Nick Tumminello is one creative guy. He’s always thinking of great ways to change exercises and make them more efficient for our athletes and clients. Today he shared some different ways to tweak the popular shoulder/scapular stability series, LYTP circuit.
I’ve personally used the stand up version as well as the one on the ball with my athletes but the band version is something I’m definitely going to have to add to my repertoire.
Check out what Nick’s got over at his site:
In November of 2009, just over 40 rehabilitation specialists, fitness professionals, and athletes gathered at Cressey Performance to spend the day learning about “everything shoulder.” This seminar bridged the gap between injured athletes looking to get healthy and those performing at high levels and looking to stay healthy. Optimal Shoulder Performance: From Rehabilitation to High Performance draws upon the expertise of two industry professionals, Mike Reinold and Eric Cressey, who have devoted countless hours to this commonly injured joint.
Eric has been kind enough to share three key things every personal trainer should know about the shoulder:
1. You should NEVER be intimidated when you hear/see the words “rotator cuff tear” or “labral tear.” Why? Because if you are training clients, you are absolutely, positively already training people who have these issues but are 100% asymptomatic. Some interesting research:
Miniaci et al. (2003) found that 79% of professional baseball pitchers – the people who put the most stress on their shoulders on the planet – actually had “abnormal labrum” features. They concluded that “magnetic resonance imaging of the shoulder in asymptomatic high performance throwing athletes reveals abnormalities that may encompass a spectrum of ‘nonclinical’ findings.”
Meanwhile, rotator cuff tears often go completely unnoticed. Sher et al. (1995) took MRIs on the shoulders of 96 asymptomatic subjects, and found cuff tears in 34% of cases, and 54% of those older than 60. Meanwhile, another Miniaci study (1995) found ZERO completely normal rotator cuffs in those under the age of 50 out of a sample size of 30 shoulders.
What’s my point? Both the people who are in pain AND those who have absolutely no pain can have disastrous looking shoulder MRIs. So, in many cases, it is something other than just the structural deficit that causes certain people to experience pain. To me, that difference is how they move.
A torn labrum may become symptomatic in a thrower with poor shoulder internal rotation. Or, a partial thickness cuff tear my reach the pain threshold in a lifter who doesn’t have adequate scapular stability.
In short, a MRI report doesn’t tell you everything there is to know about a shoulder – and you need to assume that a lot of your clients are already jacked up.
2. When assessing a shoulder, everything starts with total motion. In healthy shoulders, total motion – which comes from adding internal rotation and external rotation – should be the same on the right and left side. This “arc” may occur in a different place on each shoulder, but as long as it’s symmetrical from side-to-side, you’re off to a good start – and that’s when you work further down the chain to see what’s going on with scapula stability, thoracic spine mobility, etc.
3. 100% of all shoulder problems involve scapular dysfunction. The interaction of the glenoid fossa of the scapula (socket) and humeral head (ball) is what allows the glenohumeral joint (shoulder) to do what it needs to do. However, most individuals have some form of shortness (e.g., pec minor, levator scapulae) or weakness (e.g., serratus anterior, lower trapezius) of muscles working on the scapula. These inefficiencies alter glenohumeral alignment and increases stress on the rotator cuff, biceps tendon, labrum, and glenohumeral ligaments. Identifying and addressing scapular issues is a key step in preventing shoulder pain.
I personally have learned so much about training the shoulder through these 2 guys and know that this 4 DVD set is jam packed with information that will be beneficial to everybody that helps people realize their physical and athletic goals.
Be sure to check out Optimal Shoulder Performance so you can help your clients and athletes get better.
