I Triple Dog Dare You!

The Saints aren't going to the Super Bowl, so you don't have to worry about that.  

Mardi Gras is until February 17, so you don't have to worry about that. 


Why am I bringing these up?  Because these events are pretty major in these parts.  These two events demand a certain amount of celebration if you will. They can derail any of the best intentions if you let them.

Forget the going to the gym resolutions this year (unless you want to come to CrossFit with me, of course).  Instead,  I am challenging you to do a Whole 30 with me and my husband.  

 A 30 day process of tweaking our diets, lifestyles and environments with major rewards.  This will be the third one for us and we would love to help you with yours.  We are beginning this January 4, so you have plenty of time to purchase the book, review their website, prepare your kitchen, and to just get your mind ready to commit to it.  

First of all, I want to say that we are not affiliated with the Whole9.  We do not reap any monetary gains by endorsing them.  What we do get is the satisfaction of helping you to feel as good as we do.  

I have been fond of saying that the Whole 9 could put both of us out of business!   I am fine with that too.    I really believe this.    I realize that most spinal and joint pains are inflammatory in nature and that much of it can be resolved with a change in your nutrition.  

Just imagine what it would be like to:

-  Significantly reduce your joint aches and pain
- Improve your sleep
- Decrease your stress
- Improve your digestion
- Clear your mind
- Reverse disease
- Reduce or eliminate your prescription medications
- Clear up your skin
- Improve your memory
- Improve performance
- Lose a little weight if needed
- Become the best version of yourself


This could really happen in as little as 30 days if you decide to take on this challenge.  Let me know if you want to do this with us.   We can make a private Facebook community to help each other through this.  It will be life-changing.  Promise!   It's not easy, just like anything worthwhile, but we can support each other.   If you want a testimonial from a previous patient of mine, let me know and I can get you in touch with them.  

What is the worst thing that could happen?  Why nothing, of course.  In that case,  you can simply go back to eating the way you used to.  Besides it is only 30 days.


I still say "Everyone deserves a Good Mechanical Evaluation and Treatment Plan!"  Call 504-228-0524 or visit grimmpt.com to set up your assessment today.

Want to Improve the Depth of Your Squat? Rapidly?

Having done several Functional Movement Screens  and Selective Functional Movement Assessments, I have come to learn that most squat limitations are due to a lack of dorsiflexion of the ankle.  Always looking for ways to come up with a quick fix and accepting my coach, Raul Filpo's challenge to find a way to improve his dorsiflexion and mine, I found a solution.

Inspired by a treatment technique called Total Motion Release, I chose to exercise the plantar flexors in a round of 3 sets of 15 and then retest.  The results were dramatic to say the least.  I was able to gain 25% in range of motion in one set.  I wish I knew this the last time I did "Karen" ( 150 Wall Ball for time) and was no-repped at least 50 times for insufficient depth in the squat.

Raul Filpo's, owner of  FixCi CrossFit, method of dorsiflexion testing was used as well as the squat as a way to gauge improvements.  Keeping your heel on the ground, bend your knee touching the box (or a wall) and measure how far from the box your toes are with your heel on the ground.  Have a partner place a dollar bill under your heel to make sure your heel remains in contact with the ground...Record the distance because we are using this later for comparison.

Here is a a video taken of 4 individuals who did not have prior knowledge of the stretch.  They were instructed to perform a squat with their heels on the ground to the best of their ability.  We then measured dorsiflexion as described above, performed the therapeutic exercise as I prescribed, then measure the dorsiflexion afterwards.  I had them do the prescribed exercise again for another round of 3 sets of 15 and the results were amazing.  Rachel increased her dorsiflexion on her right ankle 2 inches and on her left 1 1/2 inches!  All participants increased at least one ankle an inch.  It really is remarkable.

Make sure you test your squat for depth before you perform this miraculous and ridiculously simple maneuver as a test/ retest like Kelly Starrett of MobilityWOD likes to do with all his mobility exercises. Pay attention to the depth of your squat as well as to the position of your torso.

Perform 3 sets of  15 unilateral toe raises on the side that had the most dorsiflexion.  Retest both dorsiflexion measurements.  Did you get more range of motion?  Retest your squat.  Did you drop lower with a more upright trunk?  Then do it again on the other side.  Did your range of motion increase even more?   Thought so.  You are so welcome!  I know you are thanking me for this!

This would make an awesome research project for someone who was willing to take the challenge on.  I would do it, but I am getting ready to go back to school next month and really don't know what it will all entail.

Here's to endless below parallel wall balls, air squats, squat cleans, and overhead squats!  Maybe we all be doing these unilateral toe raises before we do any workout involving squats...What do you think?  Give it a try.

Please let me know how this this works for you.  You can leave a comment below or video yourself doing this.  I would sure appreciate it if you would.   If you want to learn more about Total Motion Release, the FMS or the SFMA and how they can work for your individual issues give me a call.

You know what I am going to say, "Everyone Deserves a Good Mechanical Assessment and Treatment Plan!"  Call 504-228-0524 or visit grimmpt.com to set up your evaluation today.

MRI's 4 back pain is like picking your nose...

From a friend/MD: "getting MRI 4 back pain is like picking ur nose in public. You'll find something interesting but what do u do with it?

This is a twitter post from a fellow Credentialed MDT physical therapist name Alison Helmetsie from New York/Pennsylvania way. You know I LOVE when people say things better than I can and this is definitely one of those times.

A MRI is just that a finding. Are you prepared to deal with the consequences of that finding? What is your doctor supposed to do when there is an "interesting" finding on your MRI. What is normal anyway? What if that finding isn't the pain producer at all. Aren't they just a little obligated to do something once they see something "interesting" on your MRI?

If we are talking about bulging discs I just want to say maybe they are normal. I mean really. If we all begin aging around 12 years old and develop ruptures and tears in the annulus that surrounds the nucleus, in which with repeated movements or sustained postures, the nuclear material can seep into those cracks and cause a bulge. Wouldn't this be "normal?" What about all of us who have bulging discs that have no symptoms at all? Are we abnormal? Why would our creator design us this way? It sure seems like we are designed to bulge...

What if your finding on Xray or MRI is scoliosis. You know where your spine deviates to the right or left of center. What if you have obvious scoliosis? Where you can actually see this curvature of the spine. What if you have image findings like this and you have mechanical pain. Is the pain really coming from your scoliosis or bulging disc or something else? Do you really care? If one or two movements repeated throughout the day at regular intervals abolishes your pain, restores your motion and gives you return of strength? Do you really care what the MRI says?

I know that I don't...I don't really care what the image says, I just want normal pain free function. In fact, I have seen some pretty horrendous MRI's out there over the years. If I treated the MRI those people may not be pain free and enjoying their lives today.

So are you really prepared to get a MRI and sit down with your doctor to discuss the findings? Aren't they supposed to tell you no heavy lifting? No running? No exercise? NO FUN EVER AGAIN? Are you ready for this? If not, then quit asking for MRI's.

Now you know I am not saying this is all or none. You may have cancer, or your disc may be extruded giving you major neurological symptoms, or your scoliosis may be so bad it may progress to impede your breathing. In that case, maybe you will need to curtail your activities. If you play professional football and have these findings, where any kind of contact will make your condition worse as in stenosis, then football is not the right sport for you. However, in all of these instances there are activities and exercise that are actually good for you. As long as you know what to do, how much force, how many repetitions, and what to avoid, exercise is GOOD for you! But again, you know this already. Your body is telling you this.

If you want to die a slow painful death, then just don't do any exercise...lie around in bed all day and eat horrible food. Your poor heart muscle will then do the job for you.

Want to know if you have a rapidly reversible condition? You know what I am going to say..."Everyone Deserves a Good Mechanical Evaluation and Treatment Plan!" Visit grimmpt.com or call 504-228-0524 to see up your assessment today.