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.

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.

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.