As I enter my twenty fourth year of professional practice, continuing education has lost some of the shine it used to have for me.  While it used to be fun to travel all over for weekend seminars and short courses, family and business commitments have taken the forefront of my life (my son turns 13 [...]

I love the RKC plank ever since learning about it several months ago from my friend Bret Contreras. It's simple to teach, difficult to perform and satisfying in the feel of whole body muscular activation you get with it.  It's one of the only "floor" exercises that gives you the sensation of intense whole body contraction similar to gymnastics [...]

Many of you know that  I recently started as the strength coach for a pretty good football team here in Pennsylvania.  The group is fantastic; they show up consistently, do what is asked by me, ask really good  questions, and make great progress every week.    Last week during training, I had one of those moments, where I noticed [...]

As a physical therapist, the patients I see vary significantly in mobility, strength, and activity level.  This being the case, the challenges in treating them are all unique, based on their impairments (mobility, strength, and pain) as well as their functional level and activities they wish to return to. Below are a few videos of recent [...]

An often heard knock on the push up is that it is hard to load externally, once proper form and performance have been dialed in.  Weighted vests, plates and (always popular) chains are options to add load and muscular challenge to this awesome staple exercise, but at some point most people won't be comfortable with 150 lb or more. of plates piled [...]

A long time favorite in my clinic, this "anti extension" exercise fits the bill for  aggressive abdominal co-contraction, lumbosacral stabilization, and whole body frontal plane stabilization.  It is also a "self limiting exercise", defined by Alwyn Cosgrove and Gray Cook as one that "requires engangement and mindfulness, and provides an automatic yet natural obstacle that prevents you [...]