Top Five Fitness Mistakes

My friend, Dr. Matt Hemsley has some great points to remember. Check them out........

Posture:
"The Cardio Slouch"
Just because you are working your heart and lungs does not mean that your back should take a break. Sit up/Stand up finish your cardio in the same posture you started in.

Skipping the weights to lose weight:
Resistance training increases your lean body mass which increases your resting metabolic rate. Yes, you will burn more calories watching TV.

Making your routine too routine:
Consider fitness your habits. Most of us gravitate to a comfort zone performing activities that play to our strengths. The body adapts quickly to exercises. As it adapts, benefits decrease. Variety is the key. Qualified/Certified Personal Trainers are great at helping you do that.

Improper Technique:
Remember form follows function. Maintain a neutral posture throughout the movement. Stay within your own limitations - "know thyself".

Not stretching after your workout:
Calming down those "overactive muscles" after you have worked out is essential to decreasing your risk of overuse injuries.

www.activecarepdx.com

Are You Ready To Move?

Here is a word from my friend, Matt Hemsley, Doctor of Chiropractic, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist NSCA, and much more:

In the words of the Greek philosopher Socrates “know thyself”. Knowing your body’s biomechanical limitations will help you increase performance and decrease risk of injury. When considering this it is important not to make assumptions. Talking with patients I typically here the phrases “I have a bad back, knee, etc”; however, most describe their symptoms and what needs to be rooted out is the cause. Previous injury, poor posture, faulty movement patterns and repetitive activities can all affect your participation in the adaptive game of compensation.

As compensations linger inefficient movement patterns evolve, forcing your muscles, joints and nerves into undergoing stresses and strains they are not designed to withstand. This predisposes the body to microtrauma leading to a weak link in the mechanical chain. The end result is an increased risk of revisiting those nagging injuries, poor performance and sometimes a new injury.

Functional movement screening can help you determine your weak link and provide you with the tools to stay out of this adaptive game of compensation. Knowing what to stretch and what to strengthen is essential to taking you away what I call the “shotgun” approach to training. For more information on Functional Movement Screening please visit my website www.activecarepdx.com or check out Gray Cook’s book Athletic Body in Balance.

In your health,
Matthew Hemsley DC, CSCS