In grad school, my dream job was working in a running gait lab. I wanted to watch people run, dissect their form, and identify the movement flaw at the center of their injuries and plateaued performance. And then, I spent a decade in clinical practice. Running gait analysis is a service I’ve offered for over a decade. I’ve watched hundreds …
When dealing with pain, you measure progress by if the pain is getting better or worse. Progress can be measure in different ways and I expand on four different scenarios I see in the clinic HERE. But today, I want to investigate how you measure progress in business and life? Over the last few years, I have felt pulled toward a …
One of the worst recommendations for injured runners is to stop running. There are instances when rest is appropriate, but when you stop running your body changes. Muscles and bones get weaker. Your heart and lungs become less efficient. And your mental health often goes into the gutter. So a high priority for me is to keep runners running. Your …
Bone is a resilient tissue. That’s why we dig up skeletons, not muscles or skin. But bone is not invincible, which is why many endurance athletes suffer bone stress injuries (BSI). Understanding your skeleton’s behavior and tendencies is crucial if you are trying to keep yourself or your athletes off crutches and smashing PRs. At a microscopic level, your bones …
Low back pain is a common problem in active populations, but I rarely see runners with back pain—and when I do, it’s often a bone stress injury (BSI). When a runner reports a gradual onset of unilateral back pain, I’m immediately concerned about a potential sacral stress fracture (SSF). Although rare in the general public, these often occur in endurance …
I use the phrase “challenging but manageable” about every day. It perfectly describes the intensity and focus I want when working with patients or starting the next business project. Being just on the edge of discomfort is the goal. But being on the edge of your abilities can be a tricky balance. If you never push, you won’t accomplish the …
Let’s run! Once you’ve knocked out the principles I covered in the first two blogs (HERE and HERE) in this navicular stress fracture (NSF) series, we move on to the fun part. In this final blog, let’s dive into how to return to running, training, and competition. I hope I’ve made a good case for a progressive rehab program. Once …
My mom had a kidney transplant when I was in 2nd grade. Three decades of recovery have meant many doctors, medications, and side effects. A few weeks back, I went with her to a cardiology appointment after she had some concerning blood work. Needing to meet with a medical specialist usually is unwanted and stressful. As we walked into Research …
