Author: Zac Cupples

Ribcage Dimensions, Gait, Foot Arch – Movement Debrief Episode 56

Movement Debrief Episode 56 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 does rib external and internal rotation relate to infrasternal angle? Why does the infrasternal angle measures present as they do? What are the anteroposterior and medial-lateral dimensions of the ribcage in these infrasternal angles? What are the thoracoabdominal pelvic cavity mechanics in gait? How does a collapsed arch impact movement variability? How do we treat a collapsed arch? Are custom orthotics a worthy solution? If you want to watch these live, add me on Facebook or Instagram.They air every Wednesday at 7pm CST. Enjoy! and the audio version…                  Here were the links I mentioned: Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Seattle, WA on September 15-16th here Sign up for the Human Matrix in Kansas City, KS on October 27-28th here   Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Portland, OR on November 10-11 here Mechanics of the respiratory muscles Action of the diaphragm on the ribcage Below is the diaphragm picture I mentioned. Notice how from this angle, the diaphragm fibers would pull the ribcage inward.     Here is a bunch of stuff on the infrasternal angle. Human resting muscle tone (HRMT): narrative introduction and modern concepts. Paul Coffin, DPM (this is who I use to get orthotics) Here’s a signup for my newsletter to get nearly 3 hours

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July 2018 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 July. 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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Asymmetrical Infrasternal Angle, SI Joint Tests, and Imaginary Lat Syndrome – Movement Debrief Episode 55

Movement Debrief Episode 55 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 an asymmetrical infrasternal angle? What activities would improve an asymmetrical infrasternal angle? How do SI joint tests compare to an obers test for SI joint dysfunction or pelvic rotation? What is this testing really looking at? What is imaginary lat syndrome? What is the latissumus dorsi’s role in this syndrome? What can be done to impact imaginary lat syndrome? Are they any particular areas to consider cupping for a common movement pattern? If you want to watch these live, add me on Facebook or Instagram.They air every Wednesday at 7pm CST. Enjoy! and the audio version…                  Here were the links I mentioned: Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Seattle, WA on September 15-16th here Sign up for the Human Matrix in Kansas City, KS on October 27-28th here   Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Portland, OR on November 10-11 here Here is a picture of an asymmetrical infrasternal angle Below is one of my go-to moves for an asymmetrical infrasternal angle Below is the Gillet Test (Courtesy of Physiotutors) Intraexaminer and interexaminer reliability of the Gillet test. Inter- and intra-examiner reliability of single and composites of selected motion palpation and pain provocation tests for sacroiliac joint Palpation of the sacroiliac joint: An anatomical and sensory challenge Use of an inclinometer to

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The Most Important Cues for the Fundamental Movements

Finding that one cue that completely changes a client’s movement quality is beyond gratifying. A cue that makes an exercise go from cringeworthy to oh so pretty. But with so many available moves to choose from, it can become challenging to find the right cue for each individual exercise. Thus, attempting to condense moves into similar buckets may reduce the amount of cues we need. A good cue produce results across similar movements. One concept that Pat Davidson has really made me think about is the concept of a movement archetype. That is, a typical example of a given activity. Regardless of which variation you choose, there are certain qualities that make a squat a squat. You will never confuse a squat with a pushup. These similarities pose a question then. Can I devise an archetypical cue? A cue that would address a particular quality of a given movement task across all variations? That is what my mentee Aadil has challenged me to do, and is going to be a major part of my course: Human Matrix. So today, we are going to look at the following moves: Squat Hinge Reach Pull Press Accessory (aka “core”) What I am going to provide for you today is one cue that you can use for each of these base moves. A cue that is useful among all variations, and ought to maximize performance in each of these endeavors. Let’s dive in.

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Costa Rica Underground S&C 2018 Retreat Review

I recently had the opportunity to attend a strength and conditioning retreat hosted by none other than the legendary Ben House at his Flo Retreat Center. The retreat consisted of a morning filled with meditating, writing, thinking, and of course learning. Afternoons were time to bro down with fellow bros at the beach, on hikes, and exploring all the wonders that Costa Rica has to offer. The experience was life changing for me. Very rarely do I get a chance to be a part of a community like we had in Costa Rica, especially as a mercenary PT. I had the opportunity to learn from great people, share phenomenal moments, and make new friendships that I hope last a lifetime. If you want to get schmarter, meet amazing people, or simply get away from the riggers of a overconnected environment, I strongly encourage you to sign up for one of these retreats. I’m hoping to be there again next year. Without further adieu, if you want some knowledge bombs from the heavy hitters who were there, check out the review below.  

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Sciatica, World’s Greatest Stretch, and Back Squat – Movement Debrief Episode 54

Movement Debrief Episode 54 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 sciatica? What methods can be used to treat sciatica? What is so special about the world’s greatest stretch? Is stretching the upper and lower body beneficial? What coaching cues do I use when coaching a back squat? Are there different coaching considerations for a narrow or wide ISA on the back squat? If you want to watch these live, add me on Facebook or Instagram.They air every Wednesday at 7pm CST. Enjoy! and the audio version…                  Here were the links I mentioned: Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Seattle, WA on September 15-16th here Sign up for the Human Matrix in Kansas City, KS on October 27-28th here   Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Portland, OR on November 10-11 here Here is how you can palpate the sciatic nerve tract (some Yung Z right here) Here is how to perform the slump test Here is how to perform the straight leg raise Here is all you need on the thorax And a bunch of stuff on the hips Click here to read a bunch of stuff on neurodynamics Thoughts on Post-Workout Stretching Stop Stretching, You’re Wasting Your Time – Here’s What to do Instead Here is the world’s greatest stretch Pat Davidson Here’s a signup for my

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Why You Need Sun Exposure

Do you get out in the sun at all? Increasing my sun time has done wonders for my energy and sleep levels, and it’s an area we probably don’t hear enough about. That’s why I brought my buddy/fam/mentee/amazing Canadian physio Iordan Krouchev to teach y’all about all things related to sun exposure. In this post, he educates you about how to safely be out in the sun, and dispels many common myths surrounding the sun. Read this, enjoy, follow Iordan on Facebook, and get outside afterwards 🙂 All praise the sun For eons, humanity has worshipped the sun very well knowing that without “it”, there would be no “us”. Helios, son of the Titans Theia and Hyperion, drove his fiery chariot from East to West every single day keeping Homer, Socrates and all our other beloved philosophers alive. As much as the sun was venerated, its power was also feared. Losing control over the chariot, Helios’ son Phaethon set the Earth on fire and was quickly struck down by Zeus killing him on the spot in order to avoid the end of mortals. We now know that nor Helios, Ra, Belenus (Celtic), Xihe (Chinese; she also almost led to everything burning) or Surya (Hinduism) are the source of light and life on our planet. However, the fascination, adoration and fright of our ancestors of all cultures was well justified. Without the sun, or with changes in its activity, life as we know it would likely cease. Fast forward to 2018.

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Rotation vs Tilt, Harrison’s Grooves, and Overhead Squat – Movement Debrief Episode 53

Movement Debrief Episode 53 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 difference between pelvic rotation and tilt? What are the treatment considerations for each? What are Harrison’s Grooves? What are the treatment considerations for Harrison’s Grooves? Is the overhead squat test useful for determining movement limitations? What squat variations ought to be tested? If you want to watch these live, add me on Facebook or Instagram.They air every Wednesday at 7pm CST. Enjoy! and the audio version…                  Here were the links I mentioned: Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Seattle, WA on September 15-16th here Sign up for the Human Matrix in Kansas City, KS on October 27-28th here   Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Portland, OR on November 10-11 here Harrison’s Grooves Definition Here are some pictures of Harrison’s Grooves Posture and body image in individuals with major depressive disorder: a controlled study Upright posture improves affect and fatigue in people with depressive symptoms. Infrasternal angles and more Fusionetics Here’s a signup for my newsletter to get nearly 3 hours and 50 pages of content, a free acute:chronic workload calculator, basketball conditioning program, podcasts, and weekend learning goodies: [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ submit=”Get learning goodies and more”]

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7 Key Programming Variables

I want to introduce you guys to one of the smartest fam in fitness, Michelle Boland. She’s a creative strength coach who’s breadth of programming knowledge is second to none. I wanted to bring her in to the fam because she sent me this dope programming article, which goes over various keys to consider when creating an exercise program. Enjoy!

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June 2018 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 June. 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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Rib Flares, Posterior Thorax, and FMS – Movement Debrief Episode 52

Movement Debrief Episode 52 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 a rib flare? How can rib flares be improved? What is the posterior mediastinum? What is moving when we seek posterior thorax expansion? What tests and interventions can be used in regards to posterior thorax expansion? How far have we come from the FMS/SFMA? What have we learned from the FMS/SFMA? What should we be addressing now instead of the FMS/SFMA? If you want to watch these live, add me on Facebook or Instagram.They air every Wednesday at 7pm CST. Enjoy! and the audio version…                  Here were the links I mentioned: Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Seattle, WA on September 15-16th here Sign up for the Human Matrix in Kansas City, KS on October 27-28th here   Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Portland, OR on November 10-11 here Here is a move for a narrow infrasternal angle a wide infrasternal angle An asymmetrical infrasternal angle Mechanics of the respiratory muscles Here is the posterior thorax expansion activity I like courtesy of Lucy Hendricks. Here’s a signup for my newsletter to get nearly 3 hours and 50 pages of content, a free acute:chronic workload calculator, basketball conditioning program, podcasts, and weekend learning goodies: [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ submit=”Get learning goodies and more”]

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Breathing Mechanics 101 Preview

Below is a preview of a talk I gave in Costa Rica all about ribcage and respiratory mechanics. It’s a bit of a sneak preview for my upcoming seminar, The Human Matrix. Go ahead and give the talk a watch. If you want to see the full 80 minute talk, sign up for my newsletter below. If you really want to learn how to apply these concepts to help your patients and clients reach their goals, sign up for The Human Matrix Seminars below. Enjoy! (Warning, there are just a couple swear words here and there, no F-bombs though. It was a bro retreat, please be understanding) [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ title=”1″ submit=”Yes! I want to listen to the full 80 minute talk!”] Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Seattle, WA on September 15-16th here Sign up for the Human Matrix in Kansas City, KS on October 27-28th here   Sign-up for the Human Matrix in Portland, OR on November 10-11 here Photo Credits Mike T. Nelson

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