I just got home from a trip to Arizona and I am ready for bed, but I wanted to share something with you that I have been using. After I perform soft tissue work on the lower extremity (foam rolling, SMR, manual therapy, trigger point therapy, active release technique…you name it) I like to apply a stretch or lengthening technique. Static stretching can work great when trying to restore length, but at times you may find that it is limited in it’s effectiveness. I prefer to stay with one ankle for about 90 seconds. The first 30 seconds will be a static stretch on a slant board. Make sure the heel is down, toes are straight or slightly in and quad is engaged. Then I back off about 5-10% from my end range of motion and perform a muscle energy technique (MET or contract relax). I engage the muscles that I am trying to stretch for 4-5 seconds with a low amount of force. Then I relax them and ease deeper into the stretch. Here’s the twist…instead of engaging the plantar flexors in the calve the we focus on most of the time, I start with the muscles that perform dorsiflexion and flexion of the toes, specifically the flexor hallucis longus and the flexor digitorum longus. Sure, you may get some posterior tibialis in there too, that’s okay. I do this by flexing the first MTP joint by instead of pushing the ball of the foot down into the board. Don’t forget, there are seven muscles that can create open chain plantar flexion:

• the gastrocnemius
• the soleus
• the peroneus longus
• the peroneus brevis
• the tibialis posterior
• the flexor hallucis longus and
• the flexor digitorum longus

"Hey! Take me out of that shoe and stretch me out!!!"

From there, I hold a static stretch for 20-30 second sand then perform a second MET focusing on plantar flexion by trying to lift the heel off of the slant board for 4-5 seconds then returning to another 20-30 second static stretch.

Give this corrective exercise technique a shot and let me know what you think.

Have a great weekend!

Eric Beard
CEO A-Team
Corrective Exercise Specialist

Have you seen my SMR DVD?
http://kunaki.com/Sales.asp?PID=PX00Z43XTB

AthleticShoulder.com
http://facebook.com/theericbeard
http://youtube.com/theericbeard

• September 22, 2010 -- Anke Mobility Issues? This Corrective Exercise Technique will Help Your Soleus (0)
• January 22, 2012 -- Knock The Rust Off With Some Core Stability Work (0)
• January 19, 2012 -- Vertical Core Stability Training (0)
• January 7, 2012 -- Can You Give Me Some Advice? (0)
• January 4, 2012 -- Does 30+30+30 Really Equal 90? (0)
• August 7, 2011 -- Barefoot Training Part-3 (0)
• July 29, 2011 -- Barefoot Training Part-2 (0)
• July 5, 2011 -- Perform Better Show Review: Barefoot Training – Mark Verstegen Part 1 (0)
• June 28, 2011 -- A Pilgrimage to Wrigley, A Heel and Perform Better in Chicago (0)
• June 23, 2011 -- Perform Better, Disney World, The Boston Bruins and the Stanley Cup (0)

So, can you fox this?

He was a few months out from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles Tendon. Why is everyone always looking for a quick fix? I guess I do too, I am only human…but to expect a couple of exercises to break open his rehab was a bit much. My question to him was “have you been discharged from physical therapy?” Of course he hadn’t been discharged yet, in fact I knew one of the two PTs that were treating him. I asked what they were having him do…I got the typical response of “Some of these and some of these…and I think there was something else. ” It’s probably like when someone tries to tell you what their IT guy said about their broken computer. “The server was down, and it’s a good thing it wasn’t my motherboard and I need to make sure that I don’t click on any links  with suggestive words in them or something.”

My suggestion was to follow the program that his PTs put together because all too often people tend to collect additions to their rehab program and end up over-doing it by either doing too much too soon or by executing the exercises poorly.  It turns out that Achilles Man had in fact done just that last month and his ankle swelled up on him and he couldn’t walk for a day or so.

We all want to help others and we like to look like the hero, but sometimes the right thing to say is “nothing”. Follow directions. Keep working. Be consistent.  Actually do your homework. Don’t look for the quick fix exercise or treatment. It probably doesn’t exist.

Can I drink this and not have to stretch?

Have a great weekend!

Eric Beard
CEO A-Team
Corrective Exercise Specialist

Have you seen my SMR DVD?
http://kunaki.com/Sales.asp?PID=PX00Z43XTB

AthleticShoulder.com
http://facebook.com/theericbeard
http://youtube.com/theericbeard

• January 22, 2012 -- Knock The Rust Off With Some Core Stability Work (0)
• January 19, 2012 -- Vertical Core Stability Training (0)
• July 29, 2011 -- Barefoot Training Part-2 (0)
• February 13, 2011 -- I Need a Doctor (Not for Valentines Day) (0)
• December 10, 2010 -- Improving Running Performance and Running Mechanics (0)
• November 20, 2010 -- 99 Problems But a Vision Ain’t One (0)
• October 24, 2010 -- I Don’t Really Know What I Am Doing (0)
• September 22, 2010 -- Anke Mobility Issues? This Corrective Exercise Technique will Help Your Soleus (0)
• September 18, 2010 -- I Was Wr, Wr, Wr Wrong About Wes Welker and I am Glad! (1)
• August 28, 2010 -- Did Steve Strasburg have the G.I.R.D. and Could His Injury Have Been Prevented? (2)

I have been on the road a ton lately. Just this last week I have made two trips to Arizona and one to Denver. They were all good, productive trips. I had some very productive meetings at NASM corporate in AZ and attended a very helpful performance management training course alongside many of the managers from the Mesa office as well. I had a great time in Denver. I shot some footage for NASM TV, taught a corrective Exercise Specialist Workshop for NASM and got to see some friends for dinner Friday night. I even shot some video footage for the CPT Assist eTeach course Saturday night. Needless to say I was wiped out by the end of Saturday! Leading the workshops for NASM has been one of favorite parts of my “jobs” over the last ten years. More specifically, I have really come to enjoy teaching others.

As I shared to my Corrective Exercise class in Denver as well as on my NASM TV shoot, my first opportunity to educate other professionals came when I was working as personal trainer for 24 Hour Fitness in Aurora, CO.

Where it all started...

I’ll save the long story for another day, but knowing that I have made a contribution to others makes me feel amazing. They may use the information for themselves or to help their clients, it doesn’t make a difference to me. At the Perform Better Functional Training Summit in Chicago, I had a packed house for the hands on session.

I had a blast in Chicago and Providence!

I mean people were spilling out into the hallways. It was awesome. The title of my session was “Save Your Back: get Your Butt in Gear.” After my hands on breakout session a woman came up to me with tears in her eyes. She had pain radiating down her posterior and lateral hip for some time and could not find relief despite seeing several medial professionals. She was overjoyed that she was experiencing relief. All I taught the group to do was NASM’s four step Corrective Exercise (CEx)process- Inhibit, Lengthen, Activate and Integrate. I focused on the lumbo-pelvic hip complex and threw in my own wrinkles to the stretching and activation section, but it was NASM CEx straight up. To be able to provide someone relief from pain is a great feeling. I home that she keeps up with her program and can in turn pass the techniques and system on to others.

You have me on a cross country flight with a full battery, so I have some time to give you a nice solid post! Okay, back to barefoot training. Last post I wrote about progressing sensibly from a supportive shoe to a minimalist shoe if there were no injuries or congenital conditions that made barefoot training contraindicated. During Mark Verstegen’s lecture at Perform Better, he even gave a history of minimalist shoes and provided pictures of the best minimalist shoes on the market today. He cited a research study that compared 186 pairs of feet. He compared the feet of people who did not wear shoes to the feet of people who did wear shoes. If you want to read the study, search for “J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1905, Conclusions Drawn from A comparative Study of Barefooted and Shoe-Wearing Peoples, Hoffman, M.D.” Hoffman found that the barefoot group had more separation and straightness to their toes with the toes being the widest portion of the foot. Verstegen also included a picture of a Bronze Herculaneum Statue that depicted a runner and the adduction to the great toe (the big toe) is much more prominent than what I see with my clients, patients and athletes today. For those who wear shoes, especially something like a cowboy boot, women’s high fashion shoes or anything with a small and restrictive toe box, this is basically going to compact the tarsals, metatarsals and phalanges.

Look at that big toe...and it only ges worse from here

This can happen in men’s professional shoes and kids sneakers too. The shock absorption of the foot is all but eliminated. The rich amount of proprioceptors in the sole of the feet are shut down. Imagine walking around with a canvas bag tied tightly over your head all day. How well would you be able to process information?

I magine a rope around the bag...

All of the ground reaction forces that should be stored and released throughout the kinetic chain and propel someone through the gait cycle are now forced to be transmitted to the knees, hips spine and beyond. Ambulating now requires more effort and places more stress throughout the human movement system. Think of all of the professional basketball players in the 1900’s. The all wore Chuck Taylors, Converse All Stars. Chucks basically were and are just a shank of rubber with some canvas and a lace. It did not have arch support and had a wider toe box than most shoes seen today. It also did not have an elevated heel. This let the calve sit at it’s natural resting length and kept the pelvis better balanced. I have a pair that I wear during when performing yard and house work and a pair that I wear in public. The public ones are cleaner and more respectable. The house work ones have paint stains and are much grungier. For $35-$40 they are worth every penny. I used to train clients in them and work out in them too. I have to admit, lifting, kettlebells, core and flexibility were more comfortable than agility or cardio with them on. I wanted to slowly bridge the gap from the Asics 2150 pronation control show than I had been wearing for a year or so, and a minimalist shoe like the Vibram Five Fingers.

And the Chucks were a good cheap option. My feet felt so comfortable and cozy all wrapped up in my Asics. The arch support felt good from ankle to hip….but the elevate heel aggravated my sacroiliac joint and low back to no end. I could just feel them tightening up as the day went. At the time I had a standing desk, so when I wasn’t training clients I would work standing up. So being upright with those shoes was not a good fit for me. Notice I said for me…

I did try a minimalist shoe back in 2005 when Nike came out with their Free 5.0. They launched the shoe at IDEA World and I happened to presenting a Speed Agility and Quickness for Youth session for NASM there. I saw the shoe, bought a pair. Like them so much that after three days at the show, I went back and bought a second. I still have the newer pair! What happened, because I had some 1st MTP, ankle and LPCH issues that were unresolved is that after a week or so I started getting some aches and pains and slowly moved away from them. I put them on every now and then, but the 5.0 still has too much of a heel for me. Their 3.0 is even lower and the 7.0 is even higher in the heel, so they provide their customers with some choices which is nice. Nike toe boxes tend to run on the narrow side as well and I did feel a bit restricted through the toes as well.
From there I went to a New Balance tennis trainer that had minimal arch support and a very low heel. I liked these. Unfortunately, the discontinued the model and I could not find a second pair anywhere and I eventually had to move on. I found some funky orange Teva walking shoes that I tried for a while. I still have them somewhere. A physical therapist that was helping me with my joint restrictions in my big toe and ankle thought that I needed some more support so I tried some over the counter shoe inserts called Superfeet. They run about $30 and have three versions that range in level of support. They were decent.

Another physical therapist that I saw thought that I needed even more support and convinced me to go with the Asic 2130. This worked great for the foot ankle as I mentioned and I matriculated to the newer 2150 model from there.

Until I said enough is enough with the stinking elevated heel! The reason that these pronation control shoes need the heel is that they need a place for the arch support to “sit” in. That is one of the reasons that the Superfeet did not help out my Tevas very much. The Tevas were flat from heel to toe, there was no “drop”. So the arch support had minimal support underneath it and did not have the desired effect. I knew that, but thought it was better than nothing. I also ran into some plantar fascia pain, yes plantar fasciitis, last year while transitioning to my Chucks. I saw a podiatrist to try and find out more about my 1st MTP and ankle restrictions. He started off well talking about the global effect of foot ankle issues and the potential negative impact of wearing shoes with an elevated heel. He recommended Spenco arch supports which I found on Amazon for less than @$10.

<iframe src=”http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=ericbecom-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B000FPKUZ0″ style=”width:120px;height:240px;” scrolling=”no” marginwidth=”0″ marginheight=”0″ frameborder=”0″></iframe>

They seemed to help in my Chucks some, so I stuck with them for a couple of months. Then he ended one of our appointments by saying that I had some pathologies in my feet and I would eventually have to have surgery…I disagree, so I never went back.

If you haven’t seen this, there is some amazing info on this DVD I put together. I used some of these techniques to help with my foot pain
http://kunaki.com/Sales.asp?PID=PX00Z43XTB

That’s all for tonight. I’ll be back for part 3 soon! Thank you for reading!

Eric Beard
CEO A-Team
Corrective Exercise Specialist

AthleticShoulder.com
http://facebook.com/theericbeard
http://youtube.com/theericbeard

• August 7, 2011 -- Barefoot Training Part-3 (0)
• July 5, 2011 -- Perform Better Show Review: Barefoot Training – Mark Verstegen Part 1 (0)
• August 21, 2009 -- Flip-Flops and Sandals Make Me Money as A Corrective Exercise Specialist but I’d Rather They Just Wore Sneakers! (0)
• January 22, 2012 -- Knock The Rust Off With Some Core Stability Work (0)
• January 19, 2012 -- Vertical Core Stability Training (0)
• January 7, 2012 -- Can You Give Me Some Advice? (0)
• June 28, 2011 -- A Pilgrimage to Wrigley, A Heel and Perform Better in Chicago (0)
• June 23, 2011 -- Perform Better, Disney World, The Boston Bruins and the Stanley Cup (0)
• February 13, 2011 -- I Need a Doctor (Not for Valentines Day) (0)
• December 10, 2010 -- Improving Running Performance and Running Mechanics (0)

Running? Lifting to run? Stretching for running? What about core? Yeah…do it all.

Yamamoto et al. put together “The Effects of Resistance Training on Endurance Distance Running Performance Among Highly Trained Runners: A Systematic Review” in the Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research: November 2008 – Volume 22 – Issue 6 – pp 2036-2044. Researchers found that two of the five studies measured 2.9% improved performance (3K and 5K), and all five studies measured 4.6% improved running economy. Now I am not saying that they were following a good old fashioned integrated program, but the data suggests that strength training can enhance running.

“Hickson et al. (Journal of Applied Physiology 65: 2285-2290, 1988) added a heavy-resistance weight training program to the regular running and cycling workouts of eight duathletes. At the end of the ten-week program, the participants were able to last 11-13% longer in an intense short-term (4- to 8-minute) cycling or running test than they had prior to the weight training, and they lasted 20% longer than before in a longer (60- to 90-minute), less intense cycling test.” (from Northwest Runners)

Kaplan et al put together “The Effect of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation and Static Stretch Training on Running Mechanics” in Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research: July 2009 – Volume 23 – Issue 4 – pp 1175-1180. They found findings suggest that stretch training undertaken at the end of regular training is effective in changing running mechanics. Granted, they looked at rugby players running…but still.

“Does Core Strength Training Influence Running Kinetics, Lower Extremity Stability, and 5000m Running Performance?” Lindsay DiStefano found six weeks of core strength training resulted in positive changes in 5000 m running performance. I wonder what six weeks of well executed core stability work would have shown?

This video on running is excellent, just ignore the fact that their range of motion assessments are wrought with relative flexibility. I mean 60 degrees of hip extension on that last guy? I don’t think so.

I feel this in my Vibram 5 fingers. Love to run on the “right” part of the foot!!!

This post came about from a question that I answered on Sharecare about strength training and 5K performance.The big picture is to take an integrated and systematic approach. No one component is the panacea.

I hope your Holiday Season is going great!

Eric Beard
CEO A-Team
Corrective Exercise Specialist
AthleticShoulder.com
http://facebook.com/theericbeard
http://youtube.com/theericbeard
<

• September 18, 2010 -- I Was Wr, Wr, Wr Wrong About Wes Welker and I am Glad! (1)
• February 26, 2010 -- First Month of Another Fitness Challenge Brings Eric Beard Some Results (1)
• January 31, 2010 -- FLY This-Eric Beard Shows a Cool Variation for Core Stability plus Another Fitness Challenge (1)
• December 2, 2009 -- Corrective Exercise Specialist Eric Beard Works With Chinese Tennis Association in Nanjing, China Part II (0)
• December 1, 2009 -- Corrective Exercise Specialist Abroad for Tennis: To China and Back! (0)
• January 22, 2012 -- Knock The Rust Off With Some Core Stability Work (0)
• January 19, 2012 -- Vertical Core Stability Training (0)
• January 7, 2012 -- Can You Give Me Some Advice? (0)
• July 29, 2011 -- Barefoot Training Part-2 (0)
• February 13, 2011 -- I Need a Doctor (Not for Valentines Day) (0)

I was able to double the dorsiflexion on one of my clients in less than 5 minutes and they asked how they could keep that Range of Motion. One tool for her is to use this corrective exercise/self myofascial release (SMR) technique to keep her soft tissue extensible.

Try 2-3 sets of 8-12 reps.

Have a great night and thanks for reading!

Eric Beard
CEO A-Team
Corrective Exercise Specialist
AthleticShoulder.com
http://facebook.com/theericbeard
http://youtube.com/theericbeard
<

• June 8, 2010 -- Disney Vacation Workout: Corrective Exercise on the Road (0)
• February 24, 2010 -- Another Fitness Challenge Update on Ankle Mobility of Eric Beard (0)
• January 15, 2010 -- Boston CPT for NASM Ends up With Some After Hours Corrective Exercise Action for Eric Beard (0)
• December 2, 2009 -- Corrective Exercise Specialist Eric Beard Works With Chinese Tennis Association in Nanjing, China Part II (0)
• December 1, 2009 -- Corrective Exercise Specialist Abroad for Tennis: To China and Back! (0)
• February 26, 2010 -- First Month of Another Fitness Challenge Brings Eric Beard Some Results (1)
• February 19, 2010 -- Upper Extremity Reach Range of Motion Assessments (0)
• February 11, 2010 -- HFPN-Another Fitness Challenge Goals and Progress for Eric Beard 2/11/2010- My Corrective Exercise is Working! (0)
• August 4, 2009 -- Corrective Exercise for the Neck: The Stick for The C/Spine? (0)
• January 22, 2012 -- Knock The Rust Off With Some Core Stability Work (0)

If you observe the first woman with the green shirt, you can notice her right knee moving in and foot moving out. Often their is tightness in the muscles around the ankle and hip, like the lateral gastrocnemius fibers, soleus, TFL, psoas, illiacus and biceps femoris short head and quite possibly a joint restriction at the subtalor joint in the ankle. Many time sin this situation, the medial hamstrings and gluteal complex along with the medial gastrocnemius are under active and weak.

If left unchecked, this pattern can wear down the medial meniscus, aggravate the plantar fascia, patella femoral joint and lead to low back pain, neck pain and even headaches as the ground reaction forces are transmitted through the kinetic chain.

The man in the blue shirt displays a varum or bowlegged stride. This can be congenital and has a similar pattern of muscular imbalance with the piriformis and long head of the biceps femoris joining the over active group. There is less that can often be done about this type of gait because it is possibly structural, but corrective exercise can still help to minimize the muscular imbalances and enhance personal athletic performance and recovery from running.

Lastly the woman in the yellow top that takes the orange from the girl in the crowd displays that leg whip (foot out/knee in) compensation similar to the woman in the green shirt.

These compensations can all be observable in a movement assessment like the overhead squat, which makes a great pre-screen to a  running program.

Even a basic regimen of self myofascial release, static stretching, core stabilization and balance training can have a major  positive impact on these three runners and how they feel during and after a run.

I have helped several endurance athletes train for and recover from major and minor events and it is a challenge to balance corrective with the Horus of training needed to complete these events, but the importance of a corrective exercise program, good sleep, a smart meal plan, consistent training and complimentary/adjunct therapy (massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, physical therapy) is the way to have long term success with endurance sports,even if they are just F.T.F.O.I. (for the fun of it)

One more to go!!! Thanks for your persistence:)

Eric Beard
CEO A-Team

Corrective Exercise Specialist

AthleticShoulder.com
http://facebook.com/theericbeard

http://youtube.com/theericbeard

• April 19, 2010 -- The Gratuitous Boston Marathon Post Part 2 (0)
• April 19, 2010 -- Please Read This: Gratuitous Boston Marathon Post Part 4: The Juice (0)
• April 19, 2010 -- The Gratuitous Boston Marathon Post 1 of 2 (0)
• November 20, 2010 -- 99 Problems But a Vision Ain’t One (0)
• January 22, 2012 -- Knock The Rust Off With Some Core Stability Work (0)
• January 19, 2012 -- Vertical Core Stability Training (0)
• January 7, 2012 -- Can You Give Me Some Advice? (0)
• July 29, 2011 -- Barefoot Training Part-2 (0)
• February 13, 2011 -- I Need a Doctor (Not for Valentines Day) (0)
• December 24, 2010 -- Merry Christmas from a Corrective Exercise Specialist (0)

A six mintue plea for help…

http://www.youtube.com/user/theericbeard#p/a

How can we stop low back, pain, knee pain, plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee and more otehr than corrective exercise? The proper footwear for tehe individual!!!

Thanks for checking in!

Eric Beard

CEO A-Team

Corrective Exercise Specialist

AthleticShoulder.com
http://facebook.com/theericbeard

• February 26, 2010 -- First Month of Another Fitness Challenge Brings Eric Beard Some Results (1)
• February 24, 2010 -- Another Fitness Challenge Update on Ankle Mobility of Eric Beard (0)
• March 19, 2010 -- Active Heel Slides for Deep Core Stabilizers and Psoas Inhibition: Corrective Exercise (0)
• February 19, 2010 -- Upper Extremity Reach Range of Motion Assessments (0)
• February 9, 2010 -- 5 Minute Core Stability / Corrective Exercise for Back Pain by Eric Beard with the MECA Back (0)
• April 19, 2010 -- The Gratuitous Boston Marathon Post Part 3 (0)
• April 19, 2010 -- The Gratuitous Boston Marathon Post Part 2 (0)
• February 12, 2010 -- Will Smith Needs Corrective Exercise…but He Helps Me this Time (0)
• February 11, 2010 -- HFPN-Another Fitness Challenge Goals and Progress for Eric Beard 2/11/2010- My Corrective Exercise is Working! (0)
• February 8, 2010 -- Revist, Recite, Re-Write Your Goals Dailly to Manifest your Dreams (0)

Had a fun first day at the Boston workshop today. I stayed after and worked on a dancer and did a few overhead squat assessments (ACL surgeries, car accidents and scoliosis).

Here is the treatment protocol that O followed for one;
Worked on a young female dancer after NASM CPT class today in Boston-
She had left medial knee pain
OHS-low back arch, excessive forward lean,
Released (inhibited) -Vastus lateralis, TFL, Biceps femoris (short head),
Stretched (lengthened) -TFL/ITB,
Activated-VMO Glute Medius,
Integration-BW squats, lots of cuing on loading the hips with a neutral L-P-H-C
Now moving much better! No pain after treatment.

And an assessment video from another;

He needs me to tear into that ankle and get things moving! He needs some deep tissue work for sure and yes the hip and shoulder are not far behind, but he seems to have issues from the ground up from repeated ankle sprains and peroneal strains. I hope to help him find a physical therapist, chiropractor, massage therapist or corrective exercise specialist that is licensed to perform manual therapy to help him out.

Well…couple of invites to send out for HFPN then time for my workout!

Thanks for reading.

Eric Beard

CEO A-Team

EricBeard.com

AthleticShoulder.com

• January 27, 2010 -- Overhead Squat Assessment-Excessive Forward Lean from Ankle Restriction at NASM CES Workshop by Eric Beard (0)
• February 24, 2010 -- Another Fitness Challenge Update on Ankle Mobility of Eric Beard (0)
• February 19, 2010 -- Upper Extremity Reach Range of Motion Assessments (0)
• November 20, 2010 -- 99 Problems But a Vision Ain’t One (0)
• September 22, 2010 -- Anke Mobility Issues? This Corrective Exercise Technique will Help Your Soleus (0)
• August 21, 2010 -- Corrective Exercise 2010 Summer Update (0)
• June 8, 2010 -- Disney Vacation Workout: Corrective Exercise on the Road (0)
• March 19, 2010 -- Active Heel Slides for Deep Core Stabilizers and Psoas Inhibition: Corrective Exercise (0)
• February 26, 2010 -- First Month of Another Fitness Challenge Brings Eric Beard Some Results (1)
• January 31, 2010 -- FLY This-Eric Beard Shows a Cool Variation for Core Stability plus Another Fitness Challenge (1)

About.com says

“Sometimes the tendons become inflamed for a variety of reasons, and the action of pulling the muscle becomes irritating. If the normal smooth gliding motion of your tendon is impaired, the tendon will become inflamed and movement will become painful. This is called tendinitis, and literally means inflammation of the tendon. “

Pretty straight forward definition, what I like about it is it mentions that if “the smooth gliding motion of the tendon is impaired, the tendon will become inflamed.” There are many possible causes for tendinitis such as;

-repetitive strain
-age related tendon changes
-acute strain
-thermal injury
-anatomical causes

In this case…just look at the everted calcaneuous!

This is a posterior view of someone’s left foot who was diagnosed with and treated for Achilles Tendinitis.

You can also see the lateral aspect of the gastrocnemius is hypertonic and hypertrophied compared to the medial aspect. No wonder the Achilles Tendon is inflamed! The bone which it inserts into is not in the correct position and the proximal musculature has developed uneven lines of pull. This could easily be a case of plantar fasciatis, knee pain or back pain but this person was diagnosed with Achilles Tendinitis. “The smooth gliding motion of the tendon is impaired” for sure!!! It is not a problem with the tendon, that is the symptom, it is an alignment and function issue!!!

If an overhead squat assessment (current research being done on OHS assessment
http://www.unc.edu/sportmedlab/research.htm#top1 ) was performed then the patient would have most likely exhibited the left foot turning out and foot flattening out. If would have been helpful to note this first, and begin a corrective exercise program, a preventative one vs. a rehabilitative protocol with pain, time investment, inactivity, insurance fees and frustration.

Corrective exercise may not prevent tendinitis from anatomical variations in bones, but maintaining; posture, joint alignment and neuromuscular control will go a long way to decrease the likely hood of if not prevent an injury such as tendinitis in most cases.

It starts with identifying impairments and then working to improve them. Simple steps like;

Myofascial release for the calves

Myofascial release for the ITB

Static stretching for the lateral gastroc

Single leg balance reach to integrated medial gastroc and posterior tibialis control to a single leg stance

More needs to be said, but hopefully we are at least paying attention to alignment and function. the overhead squat assessment is a great tool to use. It can be as simple (or complex) as watching someone run! Do they line up like they should? Are they wasting energy and putting abnormal strain on tissue?

(Don’t even get me started about the glute medius weakness being demonstrated in this picture!!!)

If a body does not move like it should, do something about it before running a marathon, beginning a quest to lose 20 pounds or trying to get as big as physically possible. Start with the basics and use the basics on a regular basis. ALIGNMENT and FUNCTION. I know that good shoes and proper technique are important but something has to come first, and that is proper HUMAN MOVEMENT.

Only floss the teeth you want to keep and only balance the muscles around the joints you want to use.

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Eric Beard
Athletic Performance Enhancement Specialist
Corrective Exercise Specialist
theericbeard.blogspot.com
www.ericbeard.com

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