Mike Robertson and I were discussing this study that showed how training the trunk muscles for improved stability resulted in a reduction in hamstring stiffness.  In other words, flexibility improved without stretching the muscles.

To bring you up to speed, here’s the study in a nutshell:

The hypothesis is that increased hamstring stiffness compensates for the insufficient performance of the deep stabilizing muscular subsystem (does anyone smell the TVA bias in the room?).

To test their hypothesis they measure the hamstring stiffness of 30 people using a PKES test (Supine, hip flexed 90 degrees, extend the knee and measure the knee angle).  The subjects spend 2 days learning to perform “isolated, conscious activation of the deep stabilizing muscle subsystem”.  They then perform a variation of a plank with feet elevated in slings (body is horizontal) and a variation of supine hip extension twice a week for 4 weeks.  At the end of four weeks, the hamstring stiffness had decreased (flexibility improved).

Their conclusion:  The results of this study support our hypothesis.

Huh?  How do you figure?

Now certainly the training performed resulted in a reduction in hamstring stiffness which is very interesting (we’ll get to that in a minute), but how did they determine it was the result of an improved deep stabilizing whatever, whatever?

There was no pre-test of the deep stabilizing whatever, whatever.  Sure they spent 2 days learning to consciously activate it, but that doesn’t mean that its function was improved nor dysfunctional in the first place.  They used an integrated exercise that involved all of the abdominal muscles, hip muscles, and other trunk and shoulder muscles.  And there was no post-test of deep stabilizing…well, you get the point.

I’m not saying that they are wrong or right, only that you can’t conclude much more than that the training performed for improved stability reduced hamstring stiffness.  To their credit, they do mention in the second to last sentence that “it is still possible that stability training influenced stiffness of the hamstrings in some other way than by improving action of the deep musculature.”  Well done.  It could have also been improved hip stability or even shoulder stability (yes, there’s a connection)

The interesting stuff…

The point to take away from this is that mobility restrictions aren’t always mechanical tissue related issues.  In other words, stretching isn’t always the answer.

In situations where an individual is faced with a task that exceeds his ability to adequately control posture, balance, or range of motion, it’s not uncommon to see what appears to be a lack of mobility or some form of movement compensation.

This compensation is often a “locking up” of joints, frequently by two joint muscles like the hamstrings, to create stability with a comprise to mobility.  The movement will frequently appear to be uncoordinated or the athlete may seem slow or weak in reacting.  This is not a dysfunction that you can fix with the correct stretching protocol.

The fix requires restoration of stability utilizing a lower level activity that the athlete can control effectively and progressing toward more complex tasks that lead to higher force, higher speed, and higher skill movements.

This also reinforces the importance of observing your athletes in action where they experience and participate in the specific conditions and demands of their chosen sport.

Everything is an assessment.

Bill

Master Russian Kettlebell Instructor Brett Jones to Give One-Day Only Seminar at Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training

Brett Jones, RKC, a Master Russian Kettlebell instructor will be teaching a Russian Kettlebell Seminar at Indianapolis Fitness and Sport Training on January 24, 2009 from 10 a.m to 5 p.m.

This exclusive one-day seminar will provide participants with the tools necessary to implement cutting-edge kettlebell training into your fitness program in a safe and effective manner.  Brett will be personally coaching kettlebell seminar participants.

 According to Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training co-owner, Mike Robertson, “We expect this seminar to fill up fast due to Brett’s popularity in the fitness industry as one of the top kettlebell instructors in the country.”  Co-owner Bill Hartman adds, “We’ve already been using kettlebells as part of our exercise programs for weight loss clients and athletes with great results.  Brett’s instruction will only add to the effectiveness of our fitness and sports training programs.”

Seminar attendance is limited and is expected to sell-out quickly.  This seminar is available to Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training members and non-members.  Contact Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training for more information at (317) 578-0998 or indyfast@gmail.com.

While there are tests or assessments I’ll do on just about everyone, I think you need to get more specific in your testing depending on the demands of the sport or activity in which an individual participates.

Case in point, I was working with firefighter recruit today who was having some ankle and achilles tendon pain when he ran. 

[Note:  Why do does every training academy feel it necessary to run their candidates to death.  It's really not a great choice of training modality.  Mike Berry at www.strengthcats.com has been promoting the importance of strength training for firefighters for years and rightly so.  Check it out] 

He’s been catching a lot of flack from his superiors because as long as he’s not running, he’s essentially painfree.  They think he’s trying to get out the long runs.

In testing him in the clinic, there really wasn’t much that was influencing his symptoms.  Range of motion, isolated and gross movements and strength testing, special tests, and several others failed to reproduce his pain.

So I had him run.  And run some more…until he started to feel the symptoms in his achilles.

Then I retested him. 

After running, his gluteus medius tested weak, he was unable to actively dorsiflex his affected ankle equal to his unaffected side, and his pronation increased during gross movement testing.  The unaffected side continued to test normally.

With these findings, we can now address his weaknesses and provide some adaptive taping and temporary shoe modifications to get him back to normal training.

The take home point is that had I not tested him in the environment in which he was symptomatic, my conclusions may have agreed with his superiors and this guy wouldn’t have a shot at becoming a firefighter.

Make sure that your assessments give you the information you need by addressing the actual training environment. 

Bill

P.S.  You can get more info on the effects of fatigue and forces and how they affect testing and performance in the Indy Performance Enhancement Seminar DVD’s

I recently did an interview for Mike Robertson’s website newsletter.  You can access it HERE. 

If you missed the recent Indianapolis Performance Enhancement Seminar back in May, now’s your chance to get the DVD’s…AND you can get NSCA CEU’s to go with them.

You can buy them at the Indy Performance Seminars website.

Bill

Question:  Is there a difference between training for injury prevention and training for improved athletic performance?

Answer:  No.

Think about it.

Can an athlete perform at his best with significant asymmetries in joint movement from one side of the body to the other?

Not likely. (Note: there are a few exceptions like the shoulders of baseball pitchers and tennis players)

Is an athlete more likely to be injured with significant asymmetries in joint movement from one side of the body to the other?

Yes. (AJSM 19:  76-81 (1991), Spine. Sept; 8(6):  643-51)

Can a fatigued athlete produce and absorb high levels of force and perform at an optimal level?

Not likely.

Is a fatigued athlete more likely to get injured?

Yes.  (Neuroscience Letters 333(2):  November 2002, pp.  131-135; MSSE 34(12):  1907-1912, December 2002)

Ever see an ACL injury prevention training program?  They emphasize proper landing mechanics, posterior chain strengthening, force absorption and plyometric training, etc.

Looks a lot like a performance enhancement program.

Train your athletes for improved performance, and they’re less likely to be injured.

Bill