Functional Stability Training for the Core - Digital

Is it just me or do some people still have a difficult time understanding "the core" as it pertains to clinical rehabilitation, functional training, and athletic performance?

With all the research and resources that have been put forth to date, I find it difficult to swallow many individuals have a hard time comprehending that first and foremost, our objective is to do no harm. I do understand that in certain athletes, there does exist the concept of risk vs reward but still, I truly believe that the basic and foundational principles differ very little if at all.

Among the hundreds of research articles that have provided us with a blueprint understanding of what and what not to do when it comes to addressing that magical place between the neck and the knees (as well as the rest of the body and the person him/herself), there also has been a number of educational avenues that we have relatively easy access to in the event that reading research isn't one's cup of tea. I do understand that financials may limit access for some but really, I think we should be putting our best effort forward to be at the top of each our games. Some of the key resources that have played a huge role in my own understanding of core function have been the following:

• Ultimate Back Fitness & Performance and Low Back Disorders (Books) and The Ultimate Back (DVDs) by Stu McGill
• Rehabilitation of the Spine (Book) and DVDs by Craig Liebenson
• Movement (Book) and everything else by Gray Cook
• Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization by the Prague School
• Research Review Service by Shawn Thistle

But going back to the point of this post, I really find it difficult to understand why we continually see clinicians and trainers doing more harm than good both in the clinic and in the gym. I hate sounding negative but again, there are countless resources out in the open that are simple to understand, that respect the foundations of human movement, and that are quite effective in achieving functional stability.
Take for example, Mike Reinold and Eric Cressey's newest educational resource, Functional Stability Training for the Core. Subtitled, "Integrated Rehabilitation and Performance System", this DVD set is exactly the type of educational resource that is easily accessible and valuable for most if not all musculoskeletal clinicians and training professionals.

But why are we still not getting it?

Is it because that we don't have time to read research? Is it because going to continuing education seminars cost money with no guarantee that we'll receive CE credits in return? Or is it because we only treat our patients 5-10 minutes per visit with a couple soft tissue passes and don't have the luxury or interest to do rehab?

I don't know. But what I do know, is that there are a number of resources currently out there that I have personally learned from that provide us with almost everything we need to cover the 80 in 80/20 when it comes to working with both athletes and the general population.

Here are some thoughts from Cressey and Reinold's Functional Stability Training for the Core.

• We all know that rehab and training is truly the art of scientific integration. If you are familiar with Mike Reinold, you will know most if not all of his work is grounded in scientific backing. And you will also know that he always finds a way to integrate the evidence into what he does on a day to day basis. His lectures within FST are no different as he breaks down the concept of "Dynamic Joint Stability" into its component parts of force couples, neuromuscular control, joint compression and ligament tension.
• Sometimes, we get too caught up in the minutia in both our learning and day to day interactions with our patients and athletes. One of the main things I liked about Mike's presentations was that he constantly stressed that it is the big picture that's really important and that ultimately, we should strive to "train the body to perform coordinated functional movements without compensation". It's that simple. This is DNS. This is the SFMA.
• We know that some joint regions need stability and some need mobility. But the lumbar region.......?.........then why oh why are we still handing out exercise sheets with low back stretches?
• While some of you are clinicians and some of you are strength coaches, all of you work with movement based populations. Now because we all live and work 21st century, we all work with people who have certain limitations. In Eric's lecture(s) he provides us with a comprehensive overview of possible and common considerations that may potentially affect the ability of the individuals we work with to achieve true functional stability. Certainly some of you may not be able to "treat" such considerations directly, but I do think we should at the very least be able to recognize such presentations so that we can refer out to the most appropriate professional(s) in their best interests.
• Finally, progressions...progressions...progressions. Both Mike and Eric provide us with an excellent arsenal of systematic progressions in both their lecture and lab presentations to help us deepen our exercise progressions and widen our toolshed.

But just remember, before we can build our toolshed, we must always start with a blueprint of principles. And hopefully the above resources, including the recently released Functional Stability Training for the Core resource by Eric and Mike, will provide you with the core principles you need to first do no harm.