Comments on: Release your e-brake

By: Stretch the pain away. « Father Andrew's Hot Body Gym

Stretch the pain away. « Father Andrew's Hot Body Gym — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:39:57 +0000

[...] According to Melissa Urban over at Whole 9 effective, regular stretching is the key to unlocking the real power and utility of the human body. She plainly states, “Start taking your mobility issues seriously. Figure out what’s messed up, learn how those mobility issues are negatively affecting your performance numbers, and then commit to spending quality time every single day working on them. Sub out a training day for a movement/mobility/skill day, even. Best case – it fixes your mechanics, your lifts improve and you’re a stronger, happier person. Worst case – you’re merely more flexible, with less pain and stiffness during full range of motion. Win/win, people.” [...]

By: michaelchasetx

michaelchasetx — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:30:24 +0000

Melissa and Dallas, thanks for providing this forum.
I’ve found a leather Softball works good … also bought a high-density 36″ foam roller on the Internet and cut it in half to have one at work/gym and one at home to roll. I searched yahoo on “roller therapy” and found great examples of how to use the roller. And it has been a life-saver, along with deep massage, on trigger points from lifting.
http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance_repair/feel_better_for_10_bucks
http://www.performbetter.com/catalog/matriarch/MultiPiecePage.asp_Q_PageID_E_91_A_PageName_E_ArticleMyofacialRelease

By: Met-Con Day and A Word on Mobility « BASICS Ogden

Met-Con Day and A Word on Mobility « BASICS Ogden — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:05:45 +0000

[...] Releasing the e-brake. Words of wisdom about mobility. We train SO hard… and yet I’d venture to say that all of us have some sort of mobility e-brake [...]

By: “FAIL”…. « Crossfit Journal

“FAIL”…. « Crossfit Journal — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:37:46 +0000

[...] enough to get my elbows in the right position. I thought that stretching was overated, until I read this article. It seems I’m not the only one having trouble with the [...]

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:06:18 +0000

My hamstrings and hips in general have always been tight. Sometimes it’s bad enough that I get some referred pain in my lower back. I’ve got a lacrosse ball that I’ve been using and I stretch my hamstrings (not often enough) but even those two together don’t seem to get it 100%. I’ve been considering taking up yoga specifically to deal with this.

By: Dallas @ Whole9

Dallas @ Whole9 — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:35:26 +0000

Austin,

Thanks for the kind words. Glad we could be a resource for you and your clients. Hope to see you at some point as part of our Whole9 Nationwide Tour! :)

By: Melissa @ Whole9

Melissa @ Whole9 — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:57:47 +0000

@Gant: Play, get outside, do real sports instead of just trying to be a gold-medal exerciser. We’re always grateful for that particular reminder. But all the play in the world doesn’t entirely excuse you from, say, stretching. Bet you stretch as part of your judo training, right? So while “playing” is a GREAT addition to the mix, and can do quite a bit for flexibility, strength and overall fitness… it’s still just one piece of the mobility puzzle.

By: Dallas @ Whole9

Dallas @ Whole9 — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:10:01 +0000

Gant,

I totally agree that play and real-life (i.e. work) applications of our fitness are a great way to avoid the nagging overuse-type injuries we get when we only do ____________. It doesn’t matter what ___________ is, even if it’s “elite fitness.” I’ll go on record saying that practicing for “elite fitness” isn’t enough. While splitting wood, ice climbing, judo, soccer or climbing trees won’t cure you of all your structural ills, it’ll go a long way to helping you remember what’s FUN about life, and why we exercise in the first place. If we did more rotational and multi-planar movements, we’d all be better off. They might not generate maximal power, but I still think that have an important place in our “training careers”. Thanks for chiming in.

By: Gant

Gant — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:40:17 +0000

Good lord. Go out and PLAY. Play with your kids. Play with someone else’s kids. Pick up a new sport–anything that gets you moving about in all directions.

If you dropped CF as your “sport” and started playing, your shoulders would come alive again and you would cease to have these niggling limitations because (gasp) you’re actually using these muscles. Running straight ahead and doing movements that only involve vertical displacement don’t get this done.

Thor, another vote for the Agile 8.

By: Austin Stack

Austin Stack — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:00:12 +0000

Good morning Melissa and Dallas!! I just wanted to say it was a pleasure meeting you both last weekend! You guys are a serious combination of knowledge and talent!! The mobility and recovery was a serious eye opener for me! It makes total sense that flexibility and mobility plays a huge role in those physical skills we try to tackle and improve daily. I have been turning my clients to your site for valuable information. Thanks again you guys are very inspirational!! Hope to see you guys soon!!