A little while back my post on “What are the best core exercises…” generated some insightful thoughts from my peers that generally led to the assertion that this is not an easy question to answer. If you have yet to read the post and its discussions, I highly suggest you do so.
As you can (hopefully) see, in order to effectively answer the above question, you must first start with the statement “IT DEPENDS”. As such, I have come to the realization that we should in fact be asking…
WHEN, NOT WHAT!
Here are some common questions to illustrate my point:
- What is the best core exercise that all athletes should be doing?
- What is the orthopaedic special test for a SLAP lesion?
- What is the best technique to increase a person’s hip range of motion in extension?
- What is the most ideal screening system for athletes?
If we take the above questions, replaced “What” with “When“, and made a few modifications, we can now better make informed decisions for our clients, patients, and athletes.
- WHEN should I incorporate abdominal bracing as opposed to rolling as opposed to deadlifting?
- WHEN should I use the Resisted Supination External Rotation test as opposed to the Anterior Slide test?
- WHEN should I utilize active isolated stretching as opposed to active release techniques?
- WHEN should I perform the Functional Movement Screen as opposed to the Selective Functional Movement Assessment?
I hope you all understand the point I am trying to make. There is no clear cut answer. So next time you are asking yourself, a colleague, or a mentor a question, it may be wiser to ask
WHEN, NOT WHAT!
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Dr. Cubos,
I couldn’t agree more, and terms like context, “situational; correctness or appropriateness,” needs-specific, etc. are crucial ones, now more than ever. But then again, it is remarkably humbling when you recognize that, because it is a constant reminder that you can never mail it in and need to be willing to dig deeper. But noting that “it depends,” as you put it, already puts a person ahead of the game, as it sends you either searching for a solution yourself or in search of someone else with the knowledge and expertise to assist you in providing one.