A strong, functioning back is vital to the pursuit of any athletic endeavor. If you are an athlete suffering from low back problems, what are you actively doing to overcome those problems? If your only answer is “rest” or “abstaining from activity,” consider that inactivity or simply resting fails to achieve what you need most—stronger tissues. Functional strength … [Read more...] about Simply Resting that Pain in the Back is Not a Sufficient Plan of Action
Strength
Video: Body Squats
Start with feet shoulder width apart. Put your shoulder blades “in your back pockets” so you are standing tall. Keeping your back flat, push your hips backwards as you bend slightly at the knees. Here, you are “hinging” from the hips as you go into a squat. Keep your weight over your heels. As you squat (again, keeping the back flat and hinging from the hips), raise … [Read more...] about Video: Body Squats
Video: Side Plank with Hip Abduction
This combines the side plank with lying hip abductions. In other words, you perform hip abductions (side leg raises) from the side plank position. To get into the side plank position: Lie on side. Stack top foot on top of bottom foot. Push up into a side plank. Now, squeeze the medial glute (side of hip) to raise leg as high as you can. Lower leg back down in a … [Read more...] about Video: Side Plank with Hip Abduction
Video: Side Plank
Lie on side. Put top foot in front of bottom foot (easier) or stack top foot over bottom foot (harder). Push up into a side plank (use top hand if needed as a brace). Use hand as a brace (easiest). Move hand to hips (harder). Raise hand in air (hardest). Hold for 30 seconds to 3 minutes per side, breaking up with rest as needed. … [Read more...] about Video: Side Plank
Video: Front Plank with Leg Extensions
A concise demonstration of the exercise: This combines the front plank with straight leg hip extensions. In other words, you perform straight leg hip extensions from the front plank position. (You can also do a variation of donkey kicks from the plank position.) To get into the front plank position: Now, squeeze one glute to vertically raise that leg. Keep the … [Read more...] about Video: Front Plank with Leg Extensions