How Strong Shoulders Relieve Headaches

I was able to reach my physical goals without surgery! “I started doing PT thinking I would have to eventually have surgery to fix my shoulder. But with PT I felt better and stronger almost immediately. My therapist was extremely thorough in discovering all my limitations and knew how to work them and extend my strength and flexibility. We did different exercises every time so it never became repetitive or boring. I felt well cared for and through PT, I was able to reach my physical goals without surgery.” - B.S. PATIENT RESULTS GETTING THEMOST OUT OF YOUR SKIING Ok, so you now have a bunch of 2017 ski days under your belt. You may likely feel confident that your body can tolerate further challenges such as increasing the difficulty of terrain or extending the number of your runs. Muscle fatigue in the thigh muscles (quadriceps) and butt muscles (Gluteal) are the typical signs most of us get and use as our gauge that our bodies are ready to call it a day. Hip muscle weakness continues to be reported in orthopedic journals as the single most factor underlying cartilage and joint break down. The direct connection from hip weakness to loss of knee control may be uniquely responsible for a substantial percentage of all traumatic ski injuries occurring to the lower body. So obviously it’s best to avoid skiing while fatigued. Keep in mind though that muscle strength and physical conditioning may be just one factor limiting your endurance and performance on the slopes. We see skiing performance being directly proportional to how well you can balance on one ski, your ability to transfer body weight by deliberate tipping of your foot ankle in your ski boots and simultaneously counteracting natural rotational forces with the large hip and pelvic muscles. Hence the foot - ski connection needs to be addressed as a critical element in the whole biomechanical ski picture. Ski boot fit appears to be directly responsible for a number of basic though critical functions, most significantly, fine ski edge engagement and balance. The use of foot and ankle tipping for fine-tuned ski edging and balancing movements has been a hallmark of skilled skiing since the invention of the first ski edge screwed to the side of a wooden ski . Our upper body, pelvis and hip all appear to work together in consort with the foot and ankle in this dance. Being misaligned, out of balance and over or under supported in the foot to ski connection will manifest as increased muscular effort and fatigue. This also is seen causing any number of compensatory ski movements such as twisting, sitting back or leaning into the hill. So as you seek to push yourself to become a stronger, more aggressive skier consider both the strength and endurance of your large muscles as well as how well your foot and ankle can balance and control the transfer of weight over your edges. Whether you’re an elite racer or an avid weekend warrior, Canyon Sports Therapy has a program that can help you discover and fix what limits your ability.

www.canyonsportstherapy.com

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