Monday Motivation: Hard Work

Great Idea: Impact Kids Class

We always hear about how the kids today are getting fatter and weaker. Here is a great looking program that is actually doing something about it. Come to think of it, how many of us as adults, have done something even close to this lately?

Small Overlooked Muscles: Anconeus for Elbow Pain

Once a week, for the next few weeks, I am going to highlight one small muscle that is often overlooked in treatment for pain and body dysfunction. I have found, through clinical practice, these muscles can have big dividends in return to play/life pain free.

I guess my definition of small and overlooked is a muscle you don't target to train in the weight room. The first muscle I'm targeting is the Anconeus. Whens last time you've heard, "I'm training my Anconeus today."

I call this muscle the triceps little helper. It has attachments on the lateral epicondyle and the olecrenon of the ulna. Like the triceps, it helps to extend the elbow, but I believe this is a very minor roll.

It, along with the medial triceps head and supinator, helps stabilize the elbow in pronation and supination. It accomplishes this by abducting the ulna in pronation. EMG has revealed that it contracts with all index finger movement.

Another crucial role, with elbow extension, it pulls on the joint capsule to keep it from getting pinched. (Things that can alter joint capsules, I'm starting to believe have more important roll in pain management. Muscles that stabilize, as other things move, I think also have a vital roll.)

If you are dealing with lateral elbow pain as therapist or athlete, don't forget this muscle. Small, but important.


-train out pain and train in performance!

Monday Motivation: Awolnation-Sail

Simple Explanation of Morton's Neuroma

I recently had the chance to have a few long conversations with a podiatrist that is pretty famous in my area of Grand Rapids, MI.  He long ago quit doing surgeries in favor of adjusting the bones of the feet to provide "long lasting relief."

He said it came from doing "to many surgeries for a bunion or neuroma and seeing it come back a few years later."

His explanation for how he thinks a neuroma develops is one of the best I've heard.  My personal understanding was that the common neuroma between the 3rd and 4th digit of the metatarsal was from the compression that happened from a tight toe box in a shoe.  He extrapolated on this concept.

When the cuboid bone becomes misaligned, the foot on impact can no longer lock the lateral line of the foot for stability on impact.  This allows for the foot to actually increase the degree of pronation that occurs.  Now, because of this the metatarsal bones rotate.  The lateral 2 rotate laterally, the medial three rotate medially.  With this the plantar nerve is put under quite a stretch, thus irritating it.

Your body has an ingenious way of protecting itself.  It grows a protective coating.  Picture, scraping your hand every day.  What happens?  A callous forms.  Irritate the plantar nerve with each step, a callous will start to form around that structure.  You get a Morton's Neuroma.

Random Readings I Think Are Worth Your Time

These are things I think you will find interesting, thought provoking or learn something.  I know I gained something from them and they are not things I can sum up in a few sentences.

Alligator Boogaloo (Don't Just Be an Information Collector).

10 Uncommon Superfoods from the World of Ultra Endurance.

50 Renegade Food Rules.

Breathing Patterns:  Assessment.

Monday Motivation: Marco and Paulo from Cirque du Soleil

I had a chance to see Cirque De Soleil: Quidam this past Saturday. The two strongman never fail to leave me in awe. The movement at around 3:50 till the end is mind blowing!