“athletes of various abilities utilize psychological skills in their attempts to enhance performance, although the consistent practice of highly structured skills are generally displayed by higher performing athletes”.

Similarly, I had also posted about the potential psychological intervention of kinesiology-type taping in sport (click here to refresh your memory) and discussed the potential of a more tangible method of improving performance.

Apparently I am not the only one with such curiosity.

Tara Parker-Pope of the New York Times just wrote a nice piece on lucky underwear and performance. Whether you subscribe to this belief or not, make sure you have a read.

Does Lucky Underwear Improve Athletic Performance

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Here is one of his texts from my Amazon store.

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Having watched the following video, it looks like they actually DON’T combine the two exercises together. I’m glad. I’m a fan of both, just not a fan of shenanigans. I do wan’t to add, however, that not all exercises need to be on the TRX (i.e. the squat: why regress an exercise?)

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NSCA National Convention Review by Patrick Ward

Interview With Carl Valle by Bret Contreras

Distance Running – Is It Healthy? by Mike Robertson

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Unfortunately, I will have to say that for “motor learning” purposes, I truly think they are a waste of time. Most children who are at the stage where they are ready to start riding, really do not need to learn cyclic hip flexion and extension. These children are in need of reactive stabilization in order to be able to control the two wheeled device underneath them.

As such, my suggestion would be to ditch the training wheels and purchase a skuut.

Then maybe, just maybe, it would give you (or your kid) a better chance of riding like these guys:

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Using a yoga mat to explain the lumbar origin of the psoas muscle

Glute Bridging / Hip Thrusts for hip extension strength

A more effective way of stretching the quadriceps complex

Core activation with self raking

Teaching the Quadriped Rockback

Looking for intersegmental buckling – I couldn’t find it (Great job!)

Team Rockback – very few lumbar hinges in this group!

I really have no clue what I was explaining

Clamshell party

All in all, a successful event. Special thanks to Christina and Kristy for having me! Again, for more specific information on the content of this workshop, click here. To check out the rest of the photos, click here

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Initial rupture and necrosis of myofibers

• However, within hours the propagation of necrosis is halted to a local process (similar to a “fire door” mechanism)

Hematoma formation occurs between the ruptured stumps of the myofibers

Blood vessels tear and release inflammatory cells

• Later, inflammation is amplified as “wound hormones” are released by satellite cells and necrotized myofibers – these act as chemotactants, signaling for further inflammation

*Note: Repair and Remodeling Phases Are Concomitant – simultaneously supportive and competitive

Repair Phase:

Phagocytosis of necrotized tissue

• Initially, polymorphonuclear leukocytes are the most abundant cells but within the first day, these are replaced by monocytes/macrophages which proteolyse and phagocytose the necrotic tissue

Regeneration of myofibers

• Pool of satellite cells beneath the basal lamina (present since fetal development) proliferate in response to injury, differentiate into myoblasts, and join together to form multinucleated myotubes (these myotubes then fuse with the injured myofiber that survived the trauma)
• Undifferentiated stem cells which are extralaminally within the connective tissue give rise to determined myoblasts and differentiate to myotubes
• Regeneration of intramuscular nerves is also necessary as a lack of reinnervation of the myofiber results in atrophy

Production of a connective tissue scar

• Initial injury results in a hematoma but within the first day, the hematoma is invaded by inflammatory cells (including phagocytes)
• Blood-derived fibrin and fibronectin cross-link to form a scaffold and anchorage site for the invading fibroblasts
• Fibroblasts then start synthesizing the proteins and proteoglycans of the ECM to restore the integrity of the connective tissue framework
• Fibronectin is followed by Type III collagen. (Type I collagen production is initiated days later).
• The initially large granulation tissue (scar) eventually condenses into a small mass made up mostly of Type I
• The scar is initially the weakest point but infusion of TYPE I collagen (and the cross-link formation with maturation) makes it stronger (tensile strength) than the adjacent myofibers by day 10 post-injury. Therefore, reinjury ISN’T simply the “breaking up of scar tissue”

Capillary in-growth into injured area

• Vascularization is the first sign of regeneration and required for subsequent recovery process
• New capillaries have only a moderate capacity for aerobic metabolism and, therefore, rely on anaerobic means
• BUT during the final stages of regeneration, aerobic metabolism is needed (principle energy pathway) for the regeneration of myofibers - Regeneration does not progress beyond the newly formed thin myotube stage unless a sufficient capillary in-growth has ensured the required supply of oxygen for the aerobic metabolism

Remodeling Phase:

Maturation of the regenerated myofibers

Contraction and reorganization of the scar tissue

• Myofibers that survived form branches as well as try to pierce through the scar on either side. The branches adhere to the connective tissue (scar) to form mini-Muscle Tendon Junctions. As mentioned above, the scar, therefore becomes stronger than its adjacent myofibers, rendering the myofibers more susceptible to injury if reaggravated
• Reinforced lateral adhesions (branches) also form to reduce the movement of the stumps and reduce the pull on the fragile scar. These lateral adhesions are formed as a result of intentional mechanical stress (free/forced mobilizations)
• Overtime the scar progressively diminishes bringing the stumps closer together – until the myofibers become interlaced (though likely not reunited)

Recovery of the functional capacity of the muscle

• Depends on severity of injury and nature of hematoma (intra vs inter muscular hematoma) of the injured muscle

*The above review was a brief summary of Jarvinen’s review on Muscle Injuries in the Americal Journal of Sports Medicine

Photo source 1

Photo source 2

Photo source 3

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Everytime I return home, I make it a personal mission to reconnect with several individuals (outside of my family) who have played a role in my professional development thus far. These individuals, who although came “from another mother”, mean as much to me as another brother would, and therefore always deserve a visit from yours truly.

Meeting of the Minds: Part 1

Dr. Thomas Lam: I met with Thomas early this morning at my old stomping grounds, FITS Toronto. As I’ve mentioned before, this individual is light years beyond many professionals in the “athletic development” industry, and as such, it was a pleasure expanding my cerebral library through our informal discussions.

Today’s agenda:

• Slosh Pipes – a phenominal, inexpensive intervention I’ll be incorporating immediately into clinical practice (and training).
• Professional Development – an upcoming congress in L.A. that anyone and EVERYONE working with low backs should attend
• Google Analytics – an important tool that I would love to implement on this site (if only I knew how)

Meeting of the Minds: Part 2

Dr. Joel Kerr: This is one individual with whom I visit every single time I return home. He and I grew up in the same neighbourhood and were classmates in both university AND chiropractic college.  Needless to say, he was the best man at my wedding.

Today’s agenda:

• What it takes to work hard in EVERY. SINGLE. ASPECT. of our lives.
• Community involvement with Lululemon.
• A topic that we are both very passionate about, physical activity and healthy living

Meeting of the Minds: Part 3

Ed Ratz: Finally, what is a trip to T.O. without catching up with my long-time mentor, “Special Ed”. This particular individual is THE bodyworker extraordinaire. With an unending devotion to professional development and an immeasurable commitment to service for his clientele and athlete base, I only hope each and everyone of you has your own personal “Ed”.

Today’s agenda:

• A live and interactive case presentation (he was treating an elite high jumper while I was visiting) on functional vs structural dysfunction of the ankle complex
• The Prague group and DNS according to Kolar – Eddie was well versed in Janda’s work before Janda himself
• Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization – There’s always a time and a place

All in all, a very successful day. But then again, what is a day of “Meeting of the Minds” without a small little purchase?

–>

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