Exercise Science

More and more people are discovering the joy of running. But how many of us realize that there is more than a surface reason we run?  We have been created physically, emotionally, and psychologically to run.  In this article we will explore the physical mind and body elements of running, the benefits of running, how to avoid obstacles, how running will help alleviate your physical pain, the stresses of everyday living, and how to prepare for your running in the future.

Our brain is a wonderful machine made of many different parts.  The subconscious, or reflex, brain is where our stimulus response is triggered.  It is formed from childhood, and we learn behavior by practice and doing the same thing over and over.  New patterns can be learned such as running, an activity we do continually over and over until it becomes a habit. Mental skills also can be used to overcome a variety of situations.   Positive self-talk and affirmations can be used to block out pain during the tough parts of races.

The spine is a complex structure, comprised of nerves, connective tissue, bones, discs, muscles and other essential integrative components. Specifically, the cervical spine is a vulnerable area that is commonly injured due to fall, trauma, motor vehicle accident, stress, as well as poor ergonomic setups, which all lead to pain. In this article, we will review the anatomy of the neck, common injuries to the cervical spine, functional assessments and training strategies to work with clients with previous injuries.

The shoulder is a complex joint. That is involved in daily activities such as getting dressed or reaching into a cupboard. Because the shoulder is truly a ball and socket joint, providing it to move freely in six different motions, this makes it more susceptible to injury. In this article, we will review the anatomy of the shoulder, common injuries to the shoulder, functional assessments and training strategies to work with clients with previous shoulder injuries.

Functional Anatomy

Let’s look at two common functional tasks that everyone performs on a daily basis. The first is getting dressed. The movement of putting a shirt on, biomechanically, requires the shoulder to undergo initial horizontal adduction, elbow flexion, then shoulder abduction and external rotation. Anatomically, the posterior deltoid contracts during horizontal abduction, supraspinatus and medial deltoid abduct the shoulder, while teres minor and infraspinatus externally rotates the shoulder.

Figure 1. Dynamic sport of soccer

The foot is where movement begins, requiring mobility to perform simple functional movements. The knee however, requires stability with daily movements, but more importantly, dynamic sport movements such as soccer or football. In this article, we will review the anatomy of the knee, common injuries of the knee, functional assessments and training strategies to work with clients with previous injuries.

The foot is where movement begins requiring mobility to initiate daily and sport specific movements. However, the knee however, requires stability with daily movements, but more importantly, dynamic sport movements such as soccer or football. The hip, like the ankle, requires mobility, to perform such simple movements as sit to stand, climbing stairs and other functional movements. In this article, we will review the anatomy of the hip, common injuries to the hip, functional assessments and training strategies to work with clients with previous injuries.