Author: Zac Cupples

Hip Flexor Tightness, Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome, & Real World PT – Movement Debrief Episode 29

Movement Debrief Episode 29 is in the books. Here is a copy of the video and audio for your listening pleasure. Here is the set list: How to determine hip flexor tightness How to use hip flexor differentiation to drive decision-making What tests can be performed to rule out a stress fracture What components ought to be looked at while treating medial tibial stress syndrome Thoughts on acute:chronic workload in medial tibial stress syndrome What advice I’d give my younger self on real world PT What the major key is to helping people How to lessen lower back pain after spin class If you want to watch these live, add me on Facebook, Instagram, or Youtube. They air every Wednesday at 7:30pm CST. Enjoy!                    Here were the links I mentioned: Pat Davidson Enhancing Life Method Strength Train Adapt Evolve – Aaron Davis’ spot A whole post on the Levitt position to reduce hip flexor tone All Gain, No Pain Practical Pain Education Iordan Krouchev Andy Mccloy  Trevor LaSarre 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”] Hip Flexor Tightness Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome Real World PT  

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Recommended Resources

I oftentimes get asked what resources I recommend. The resources listed below have been essential at putting me down the path that I am currently going, and have shaped how I practice today. The cool thing about this list? None of these are set in stone. If I find a better resource, or one of the blogs I recommend starts to resonate with me less, it leaves the list (no pressure). I want to give you guys the most up-to-date resources as humanly possible, so please check back here frequently. If you’d like articles and such that are tripping my trigger as of late, you may want to sign up for my newsletter. You’ll also get some access to almost 3 hours and 40+ pages worth of exclusive content on pain and breathing. [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ submit=”Oh wow, free stuff? Absolutely!”] Here are my resources: Foundational Sciences Video series Makemegenius – A youtube page dedicated to explaining scientific concepts that a kid could understand. Crashcourse – Another series of short videos explaining complex scientific topics and more in 15 minutes or less. I wish I had this in undergrad. Books Gilroy Atlas of Anatomy – Easily the best paper anatomy atlas you can find in the land. The angles drawn, the clarity of pictures, this atlas has it all. Wait until you see the subocciptals from the side. #mindblown Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology – Easily the best and most comprehensive physiology textbook in the land, the depth at

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How to Organize Journals, Blogs, and Articles

You wake up, make your bed, do your ahem, bathroom business, then slowly sulk your way to the kitchen to get some coffee brewing. While the good stuff brews, you open up your computer and decide to check what’s going on in the good old internet today. Then it happens. You see 20 new blogs on your blogroll, Facebook has shared 13 different posts that sound unbelievable, but oh wait, check out that tweet showing Tim Ferriss finally interviewed Zac Cupples (#dreaming), and then oh snap, Eminem just dropped another new song on Spotify! And then you accomplish nothing. I see this problem time and time again with many of the mentees that I work with, and I occasionally fall into the trap myself. We see so many interesting articles coming out on a regular basis, and the pull from FOMO is real. With so much to consume and so little time, what are we to do? The short answer: consume at the right time. Yes, the learning process has to involve impeccable timing with consumption. I’ve spoken about just in time learning ad nauseam (here and here), and it is key to both solving problems and retentaining new information. Consuming a cornucopia of random posts, articles, podcasts, and Youtube videos without direction is a recipe for time wasting.  You fleet from one cool article to the next and…oh wait, what was that last article about? We’ve all been there, and the struggle is real. So how do we overcome this nerd FOMO

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Respiration Revisited Preview

Respiration, and how it impacts movement, is a topic of dear interest to me. I scoured a bunch of resources to better understand how this process works, and I figured I’d record a talk on how I am applying these concepts. Basically, I do the work, you reap the results #tistheseason Here were some of the topics I discussed in this talk: The anatomy of respiration The physiology of respiration Alterations in physiology and anatomy as respiratory demands increase How to simply assess how movement is affected by respiration Easy to implement treatments to favorably impact movement If you want immediate access to the remainder of the nearly 90 minute talk, and a FREE 27 page PDF file of my talk notes, fill out the form below. [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ submit=”Yes, a free talk and notes sounds like a sweet deal”] Without further adieu, here is the first 30 minutes of the talk.

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Hypermobility, Pushups Over Quad Sets, and Lat Dominance – Movement Debrief Episode 28

Movement Debrief Episode 28 is in the books. Here is a copy of the video and audio for your listening pleasure. Here is the set list: How do testing considerations differ for people with joint hypermobility syndromes? What does treatment look like for the hypermobile client? Why I like pushups and other upper body exercises can be effective selections for lower body problems What “pain science” courses do I recommend What’s the deal with overbracing and cueing abdominal coordination? How can you reduce lat overactivity The clinical reasoning model that I am thinking of If you want to watch these live, add me on Facebook, Instagram, or Youtube. They air every Wednesday at 7:30pm CST. Enjoy. (sorry about the audio delay, still making some tweaks on my new computer)                  Here were the links I mentioned: Here is the first way I assess coordinative variability   The next test assess coordination, power, and fatigability of joint variability: Noi Group Explain Pain Course Notes Graded Motor Imagery Course Notes Mobilisation of the Nervous System  Course Notes Therapeutic Neuroscience Education Course Notes International Spine and Pain Institute “All Gain No Pain” by Bill Hartman Enhancing Life Method Strength Andy Mccloy  Trevor LaSarre Here’s a signup for my newsletter to get a free acute:chronic workload calculator, basketball conditioning program, podcasts, and weekend learning goodies: [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ submit=”Get learning goodies and more”] Hypermobility Pushups Over Quad Sets Overbracing Lat Dominance    

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Practical Pain Education

I gave a talk on how I approach pain education in the land of China, and yes I finally got around to re-recording it. Here were some of the topics I discussed in this talk: The history of pain education The difference between the three pain mechanisms What the current research suggests regarding pain and threat The 14 most common maladaptive pain beliefs, and how to squash those thoughts via education If you want immediate access to the remainder of the 1 hour and 49 minute talk, and a FREE 21 page PDF file of my talk notes, fill out the form below. [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ submit=”Yes, a free 90+ minute talk and notes sounds like a sweet deal”] Without further adieu, here is the first 20+ minutes of the talk.

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Infrasternal Angles, Spinal Lordosis, and Restoring Shoulder Motion – Movement Debrief Episode 27

Movement Debrief Episode 27 is in the books. Here is a copy of the video and audio for your listening pleasure. Here is the set list: The three types of infrasternal angles Anatomical theories regarding the infrasternal angle Infrasternal angle treatment The different positions of the lumbar spine Restoring lumbar position Restoring cervical spine position My treatment sequence for restoring shoulder motion Which are my favorite hikes If you want to watch these live, add me on Facebook, Instagram, or Youtube. They air every Wednesday at 7:30pm CST. Enjoy.                  Here were the links I mentioned: Bill Hartman Pre-existent vertebral rotation in the human spine is influenced by body position. Right thoracic curvature in the normal spine Analysis of preexistent vertebral rotation in the normal spine. Effect of changes in pelvic tilt on range of motion to impingement and radiographic parameters of acetabular morphologic characteristics. PRI Craniocervical Mandibular Restoration PRI Vision Here is the exercise I mentioned from Daddy-O Pops for a retracted and elevated scapula. Enhancing Life Method Strength Andy Mccloy  Trevor LaSarre Here’s a signup for my newsletter to get a free acute:chronic workload calculator, basketball conditioning program, podcasts, and weekend learning goodies: [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ submit=”Get learning goodies and more”]   Infrasternal Angles Spinal Lordosis Restoring Shoulder Motion

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November 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 from this past August. 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!”] Biggest Lesson of the Month Don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t hitting perfection day in and day out. Consistent progress over time is the key. There have been many days where I wasn’t motivated to stay on task, and faltered. The key to getting back on the proverbial horse the next day was to not beat myself up. Instead, acknowledge that these things happen, understand I’m human, and get after it the next day. You’d be amazed at what this shift in perspective can do. Quote of the Month “Greatness is a lot of small things done daily” ~ MJ Demarco MJ Demarco again takes the cake this month. This quote made me reflect a lot on just how many small, quality habits, can make an impact on life. What small things can you do to become great? Hike of the Month A late steal this month, but got a chance to check out Death Valley National Park. I wasn’t really sure what to expect with this

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Kyphosis, Post-Rehab Total Hips, and Coordinating Three Planes- Movement Debrief Episode 26

Movement Debrief Episode 26 is in the books. Here is a copy of the video and audio for your listening pleasure. Here were all the topics: What treatment parameters should be considered when working with someone who is overly kyphotic What to look at when assessing a total hip arthroplasty What training pieces should be considered and focused on with a total hip arthroplasty Should anything be avoided on the training floor with a total hip arthroplasty? How do I restore shoulder flexion How do I use cervical rotation to restore cervical lordosis What exactly do I mean by restoring sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes? How do I assess the three planes How do I restore the three planes Can the ribcage and t-spine act independently? If you want to watch these live, add me on Facebook, Instagram, or Youtube. They air every Wednesday at 7:30pm CST. Enjoy.                  Here were the links I mentioned tonight Enhancing Life Bill Hartman An Anatomic Investigation of the Ober’s Test The Ultimate Guide to Treating Ankle Sprains Ipsilateral Hip Abductor Weakness after Inversion Ankle Sprain Method Strength Andy Mccloy  Trevor LaSarre Jeremy Hyatt Here’s a signup for my newsletter to get a free acute:chronic workload calculator, basketball conditioning program, podcasts, and weekend learning goodies: [yikes-mailchimp form=”1″ submit=”Get learning goodies and more”]   Kyphosis Post-Rehab Total Hips Shoulder Flexion Cervical Rotation Coordinating Three Planes

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The Guide to Travel Physical Therapy & Psychology – A Randy Bowling Movement Conversation

I recently had the pleasure of talking about all things travel PT and psychology with my dear friend, Randy “The Dolph” Bowling. Randy has been a traveling physical therapist for almost 10 years now, and has a substantial knowledge base on the traveling process. He also is very much into psychology, and thought me a few things. You can find Randy on facebook and Instagram. Here were some of the topics discussed: Why Randy chose to become a traveler How to best interact with travel companies How to network with other travelers The need for negotiation What do travel contracts look like What does the interview process look like What makes a good traveler Randy’s thoughts on psychology How important is focusing on pain? Why Randy is a big fan of Louis Gifford Here is the video, audio, and scroll down to read the modified transcript. Enjoy!   Here were some of the links mentioned by The Dolph Fordyce’s Behavioral Methods for Chronic Pain and Illness Clinical Reasoning for Manual Therapists Pain-Related Fear: Understanding and Treating the Complex Patient Aches and Pains The Seductive Allure of Neuroscience Explanations Modified Transcripts   Zac: Hello you beautiful, sexy, outstanding people. This is Zac Cupples from zaccupples.com, and I’m bringing you another movement conversation with my good friend, the legend himself, quo board extraordinaire, straight out of Arkansas, “The Dolph,” Randy bowling. Say hi to the people Randy, Randy:  Hey my name is Randy. Zac: The reason why I wanted to bring Randy on for this movement

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