Author: Zac Cupples

Infrasternal Angle Development, Quads are Overrated, and Are You Really a Complex Patient? Movement Debrief Episode 86

Movement Debrief Episode 86 is in the books. Below is a copy of the video for your viewing pleasure, and audio if you can’t stand looking at me. Here is the set list: What is likely causing someone to be predisposed to having a particular infrasternal angle? Why do you value the hamstrings over quads early in an ACL repair? When do you target quads and knee extension? Mick Hughes says he’d incorporate knee extension as early as 4 weeks post-op and constantly emphasise the importance of the quads. What’s your take on that? How many people are truly complex cases? Zebras?

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Is it Risky to Change Your Movement Patterns?

Many claim there are inherent risks when changing the way someone moves, especially with higher level athletes. But is this fear warranted? Do we as movement professionals have the power to alter athletes the way we think we do? I sift through this question in today’s podcast, where I discuss the supposed risks one undergoes when altering movement patterns. It may not be as risky as you think. Check out the podcast, show notes, and modified transcripts below. Show Notes Usain Bolt debrief I did dispelling this absurd myth Below is a good example of Usain Bolt’s asymmetry: Here is a deep dive into the 90/90 hip lift Below is the rockback breathing exercise Joel Jamieson is my go-to resource for conditioning Putting the Myth to Rest I want to discuss this myth that I see going on around the interwebs, which I thought I put to rest in a previous debrief, but unfortunately I still see it perpetuated. What is that myth? I’m glad you asked. The myth is when you see someone who is a good performer in whatever they do, and they are utilizing compensatory movement strategies. Do we change these strategies? If that supposedly is what makes them great? So today I’ve decided I want to go Ether on this. Put this to rest, because I do not want this myth perpetuated. Check Your Ego  For those who have never heard of this, basically some professional athlete will move with a compensatory strategy, such as Usain Bolt. If

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Mandibular Retrusion, GIRD, and Distance Assessment – Movement Debrief Episode 85

Movement Debrief Episode 85 is in the books. Below is a copy of the video for your viewing pleasure, and audio if you can’t stand looking at me. Here is the set list: What is the relationship of mandibular in relation to the head and spine? What could be a negative consequence of the retruded mandible? What treatment strategies would you use to improve it? What is GIRD? Does my hierarchy for improving movement change with someone who has GIRD? How would you improve GIRD? How do I perform an assessment with a distance client?

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Collapsed Arch, Rounded Back Breathing, and Can Posture Be Changed? Movement Debrief Episode 84

Movement Debrief Episode 84 is in the books. Below is a copy of the video for your viewing pleasure, and audio if you can’t stand looking at me. Here is the set list: What can be done about foot arches that collapse? Are orthotics a useful tool for this condition? Are their instances which I’ll cue excessive rounding of the spine during breathing exercises? Can rounding the back drive posterior thorax expansion? What is the importance of posture? Can posture be changed?

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The Training Tool Nobody is Talking About…

Note from Zac: There is a ton of BS out there when it comes to building speed, power, and all things performance. Is training in sand one of those instances? That’s where I enlisted someone who knows WAY more about sprinting and getting peeps fast—Hunter Charneski. Hunter is one of those guys who is always learning, always evolving, and the perfect guy to take an honest look at whether or not sand training can be a useful.  The answer may surprise you.

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Shoulder Limitations, Breathing Starting Positions, and a Trainer’s Role in Persistent Pain – Movement Debrief Episode 83

Movement Debrief Episode 83 is in the books. Below is a copy of the video for your viewing pleasure, and audio if you can’t stand looking at me. Here is the set list: How can shoulder horizontal abduction and internal rotation be limited at the same time? What interventions would be useful for someone with this type of limitation? What position should someone with heavily flared ribs start? Are there beneficial positions to start wide or narrow infrasternal angles? Can a personal trainer be a useful person in helping someone with persistent pain? 

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Cervical Radiculopathy, Lower Body Elevation, and Shortcomings of My Approach – Movement Debrief Episode 82

Movement Debrief Episode 82 is in the books. Below is a copy of the video for your viewing pleasure, and audio if you can’t stand looking at me. Here is the set list: What are some key assessments for cervical radiculopathy? What is my treatment hierarchy for cervical radiculopathy? Why have I been elevating the lower body on many exercises? Why is inversion a useful move for improving mobility? What are some of the weaknesses in my current approach? What areas to I struggle in? What am I doing to improve upon those areas?

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March and April 2019 Links and Review

Every week, my newsletter subscribers get links to some of the goodies that I’ve come across on the internets. Here were the goodies that my peeps got their learn on in March and April. If you want to get a copy of my weekend learning goodies every Friday, fill out the form below.  That way you can brag to all your friends about the cool things you’ve learned over the weekend. [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ submit=”Hell yes I want weekend learning goodies every Friday!”]

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Pecs, Extreme Postures, and Foam Rolling – Movement Debrief Episode 81

Movement Debrief Episode 81 is in the books. Below is a copy of the video for your viewing pleasure, and audio if you can’t stand looking at me. Here is the set list: Are pecs still useful in improving lower thorax variability? Do you still use pec squeezes in treatment? With extreme kyphosis or thoracic spine flattening, what test results are expected? What treatment recommendations are there for these posture types? Should visual postural changes be expected in these folks? Is self-myofascial release useful?

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The Revolution: A Deep Dive into Antifragility Course Review

Antifragility is beyond resilience or robustness. The resilient resists shocks and stays the same; the antifragile gets better. ~ Nassim Taleb, “Antifragile” That was the crux of the The Revolution: A Deep Dive into Antifragility. How do we, as health and fitness professionals, help our clientele improve with the stressors we impart? How do we take clients from various starting points—be it an immobile person in persistent pain, a complete beginner, or a high level athlete—and push them towards their goals? That’s what made this experience unique, as the three presenters, Seth Oberst, myself, and Pat Davidson, sought to create a continuum. For Seth, it was starting with the most fragile. Pat’s goal was to push performance to the highest level, to not survive, but thrive. While I aimed to be the middle ground; establishing the principles of movement common amongst all people.  And I want to share the highlights with you. While biased, I thought this was a unique experience. Though we all came at the deep dive from different angles, there were many commonalities shared.  Enjoy! Self Regulation – Seth Oberst As mentioned in a previous post, self regulation is the intrinsic ability to response to internal/external stressors with an efficient range of responses. There are three keys to demonstrating self-regulatory capabilities: Differentiating safety vs danger Responsivity Completion (Resolving the situation). Trauma, an unresolved defense pattern, negatively impacts these keys. To remedy this situation, we must reestablish each of these areas in a manner that promotes self-regulation. Providing

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Infrasternal Angle Updates, Flexion Intolerance, and Calves – Movement Debrief Episode 80

Movement Debrief Episode 80 is in the books. Below is a copy of the video for your viewing pleasure, and audio if you can’t stand looking at me. Here is the set list: Does the infrasternal angle (ISA) impact my decision-making? What is the role of the ISA? What should be done if pain is brought on by a pelvic tilt and exhalation? What activities do I utilize to improve activity of the gastrocnemius and soleus?

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