Thursday, March 5, 2015

Be the Best You Can Be

I haven't been blogging lately, because I am working on becoming an expert in my craft.  No excuses I know, but really I have been busy!


Painted Bunting at my bird feeder



Many years ago and today I read a quote from Brian Tracy, a motivational speaker, who said;


"If you read an hour a day, one book per week, you will be an expert in your field within three years. "  Brian Tracy's Blog, (2012).



I must say, that I am currently doing this by taking part in the online portion of the McKenzie MDT diploma program.  Talk about stepping out of your element!  Online classes were completely foreign to me when I started.  My heart rate was a little racy the first week because I didn't know how to navigate the website, the first module was very foreign to me and I doubted my decision to do this.  I must say there is quite a bit of reading, tons of early mornings,  and questions to be answered and discussed.  I am 6 weeks into the online portion with about 6 weeks to go.  Hopefully on the downside of the mountain!   Actually, I am really enjoying the process.  

It is very exciting because the course is limited to 20 participants from around the world.  It is just amazing that I am taking part in discussions with other experts in MDT from Brazil, Scotland, India, Greece, Chile, Canada, Africa, Poland, New Zealand, Australia, and a few interesting states like Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Virginia, and of course Louisiana.  Just downright amazing!  The internet has made the world a much smaller place and I am grateful.   You see, I have been practicing MDT McKenzie Method for almost 30 years by myself!  To have conversations with others who are so knowledgeable and enthusiastic is invigorating.  

My goal in this endeavor is to simply be the best MDT practitioner I can be and hopefully teach others someday.  MDT is not offered in the physical therapy programs around here in any great detail.  I think it is a shame, because in my opinion,  it is the most effective assessment and treatment plan around.  I would have saved myself some grief in the early years of my practicing if this were taught in school.   This is probably why your favorite doctor or clinician isn't aware of the power of  MDT.  He/she just hasn't been exposed to it in any great detail.   I want to change all that around here.  I want people to have access to rapid results with emphasis on self-treatment for their musculoskeletal problems.  

What is your goal?  Are you setting goals?  Are you taking steps to achieve your goals?  I invite you to join me in stepping out of your comfort zone.  Who knows we could all be experts in our fields if we just devoted one hour a day.  Wow!  Think of the possibilities.

In the meantime if you are having any aches, pains or movement problems interfering with setting and achieving your goals, you know what I am going to say, "Everyone Deserves a Good Mechanical Assessment and Treatment Plan!"  Schedule yours today by visiting grimmpt.com or by calling 504-228-0524.  I hope to see you soon.  

5 Ways to Gain a Competitive Advantage: The Importance of.... [online] Available at: http://www.briantracy.com/blog/personal-success/5-ways-to-gain-a-competitive-advantage-the-importance-of-continuous-learning-and-personal-development/ [Accessed 3 Mar. 2015].

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Things People Say in the Gym that Make Me Think Cervical

As you know by now, I enjoy CrossFit several times a week so I  hear things said at the box.  The regulars are constantly trying to improve their fitness and sometimes get discouraged by aches and pains that crop up.  As you know CrossFit is constantly varied, functional movements performed at relatively high intensity.  It is also measurable by demonstrating increased work capacity across broad time and modal domains.  With that, you always know where you stand in your fitness journey if you keep track.  When you keep track, you want to improve.  You begin to really pay attention to your body, where you limitations are and where the aches and pains are.  

When athletes get frustrated and complain about any of the following:

  • weak grip strength
  • painful 1st rib
  • hot elbows
  • scapular pain
  • tennis elbow
  • intermittent pain in their shoulders
  • "my arms are toast today"
  • trigger points in the trapezius
  • intermittent pain anywhere in their arms 
  • numbness and tingling
  • wrist pains

Common Areas that Pain Originating from the Neck is Felt


I always think, hmmm, I wonder if this is a cervical problem?  It is not unusual in my practice to see any of these complaints resolve with end range movements of the neck.   It doesn't mean it is a serious problem, and generally it is a condition that is rapidly reversible.   The MDT McKenzie evaluation will help me to decide which direction that patient should move in to abolish their symptoms.  I am sure you are saying, yeah right!  No way can this shoulder pain be coming from my neck!  Well, you might be right, it could be a shoulder problem but it could be coming from your neck.  A MDT McKenzie evaluation will help to determine that.  Don't worry, if it is a shoulder problem we've got that covered too.  

Check out my previous blogs on neck problems at the gym:  Hurting my Neck at the Gym and Hurting my Neck at the Gym - part 2.  The best way to find out where your nagging upper extremity problems are coming from is to get a great comprehensive evaluation.  The MDT McKenzie evaluation is a reliable assessment process designed for all musculoskeletal problems, including pain in the back, neck and extremities.  Once your clinician knows the source of your pain, they will then instruct you on how to take care of the problem yourself in as little as 3 - 5 visits.   If you don't let it linger too long, this could easily be remedied in a few visits with noticeable increase in strength, decrease in pain and improved mechanics and maybe even a few PR's.   

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 schedule your evaluation today. 


McKenzie, R. and May, S., (2000) The human extremities: mechanical diagnosis and therapy. Raumati Beach: Spinal Publications.

McKenzie, R. and May, S., (2006) The cervical and thoracic spine: mechanical diagnosis and therapy. 2nd ed. Raumati Beach: Spinal Publications.

McKenzie, R.,(2011) Treat Your Own Neck, 5th ed. Raumati Beach:  Spinal Publications.  

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Patriotism,CrossFit and I

When I began CrossFit a little over 3 years ago, I was a little dismayed over the hero workouts.  I am pretty sure that I am the most patriotic person I know to put it in perspective.  Here we are doing a silly workout named after someone who paid the ultimate sacrifice for me and my country.  Really?  It felt like a "dis" to me at the time.



My emotions are running a little raw this week so forgive me, please.  You see, I just watched American Sniper.

First, I just want to say that I am eternally grateful for all of our first responders out there, including EMS, the fire department and the police force and to our military.  You will always see me at every game tearing up or outright crying during the national anthem because I just can't help it.  I even get emotional when I watch them sing the national anthem on TV.  Why is it that the only time we really honor our heros is with a CrossFit workout?  My attitude about these workouts has changed over the years because it really is the only time on my radar, so to speak, that we seem to take the time to honor our heroes.
 Just as in the movie American Sniper on one of his trips home between missions, he says there is just no sign that anything is going on.  Americans are just so oblivious to what are military is currently doing to protect our freedom.  It literally blows me away.




If you are suffering from pain or movement loss, you may have a rapidly reducible condition.  If you want to find out check out grimmpt.com where "Everyone Deserves a Good Mechanical Assessment and Treatment Plan!"  Call 504-228-0524 or visit grimmpt.com to set up your evaluation today.


Sunday, January 18, 2015

Have You Fallen and Can't Get Up?

No, really can you get up?  I was reading this article here which describes 52 ways to get up from the floor...http://breakingmuscle.com/strength-conditioning/take-the-stand-up-challenge-52-ways-to-get-up-off-the-floor.  Awesome!  Can't do many of these variations though.

I walked into my "box" this morning and guess what was part of the workout?  You guessed it.  Getting up off the floor!  Our coach had us lying on our backs, rolling up to a squat and then standing on both legs.  Then he added a little variation and we attempted it with standing on one leg.  I couldn't do it.  Close, but still didn't quite come up to standing.  I wasn't alone.  There were several others who couldn't do it as well.  These are people who actually exercise.  Try it yourself and see if you can do it.

One of my physical therapy instructors said that one of the most important things you could do for yourself is to lie down on the floor and get up every day.  I would say I have to agree with her.  I have far too many patients who cannot do this.


If you want to challenge yourself I suggest working on the Turkish Get Up which is shown is this video.  Try to perfect the technique on both sides before you add weight to your hands.  This is an excellent exercise for posture and coordination no matter what your level of (or lack of) fitness is. It should be a baseline of all of your exercises.   Once you master this you can progress to adding weight as in this video:



This video is done by Gray Cook is a well-respected physical therapist who is known for founding the Functional Movement Screen, the Selective Functional Movement Assessment which are used in physical therapy clinics, professional athletic settings and gyms all over the world.  He really explains this movement well.  He explains in his book Movement that the Turkish Get Up is a self-limiting exercise used to "improve poor movements and maintain functional movement quality."1

So get your get up on and get up and off the floor everyday so that whenever you fall, you know you can get up!  If you have any pain or limitations in movement, you know what I am going to say.  "Everyone Deserves a Good Mechanical Evaluation and Treatment Plan!"  Call 504-228-0524 or visit grimmpt.com to set up your assessment today.


1  Cook, Gray,et.al. Movement:  Functional Movement Systems, On Target Publications, (2010); 232.







Sunday, January 11, 2015

It's All About Priorities

As you probably know by now, I see many patients that have mechanical, rapidly reversible pain.  I do a thorough history of your symptoms, review your past medical history, and then do an examination.  Once I am done I have a pretty good idea on how to abolish your symptoms.    
One possible exercise

Generally, this requires you to perform ONE exercise several times a day.  I could give you dozens of exercises that won't be effective but can keep you busy but I try not to waste your time.

It is not uncommon for me to hear, this is not possible. There is no way I could possibly perform this one movement even though it reduces or eliminates all of my pain, restores my movement and improves my strength.  I have heard that this is just plain boring to do several times a day as well.

As I have said before, if you are unwilling to do the work, then what I do does not work.  So please make time in your busy schedules for your surgery, the follow up rehabilitation and the possibility of complications.  Please make time in your busy schedules to take multiple pharmaceutical medications that always come with major side effects including additional pains and sometimes death.


Isn't it time that we all become a little proactive about our health?  Perhaps we should eat right, exercise, get plenty of water and sleep and do the one exercise that can abolish your symptoms?

Why is this so hard?  I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Although I truly believe "Everyone Deserves a Good Mechanical Assessment and Treatment Plan!"  If you don't think you can do the required homework, don't waste your time.  If you are interested in finding out if one movement performed several times a day can abolish your symptoms then call 504-228-0524 or visit grimmpt.com today.