By Mary Finck
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| Shoulder Mobility Clinic at NoCoast |
As a CrossFitter, you probably realize that this is a test of your body’s greatest physical and mental abilities. Our program provides you with an opportunity to test your strength, balance, power, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, stamina, speed, accuracy, agility, and coordination. There is some risk of injury within all sports, but the amazing thing about CrossFit is that it will expose your weaknesses so you can address them. There are many aspect of the human body that should be considered when finding a weak link in the system. For example, kipping pull ups and overhead squats test the shoulders optimal range of motion and stability. As physical therapists, we are trained to find these weaknesses and help you develop the tools to address your body’s specific needs. The mechanics of the human machine are truly amazing and it is critical that we look at and address each piece to maximize the best long term benefits. Our machines take lots of work to maintain, so make sure you fuel your engines properly and get checked out. Don’t wait until you’re broken to go to the shop!
The key to being a successful athlete is proper movement patterns and motor control (brain body connection). It all goes back to the basics. You have to learn to air squat before you overhead squat. Ideal squatting positions helps establish proper muscle activation, spinal alignment/stabilization, and motor patterns. This carries over to the core to extremity principle that is emphasizes at NoCoast. There are many other important aspects of our systems that must be assessed for dysfunction. These systems include spinal alignment, fascial restrictions, joint mobility, nerve tightness, postural faults, strength deficits, and balance dysfunction. Delayed muscle firing and improper movement patterns are two of the most important issues to evaluate. Some examples of this I see in my practice are improper core activation, pelvic asymmetries, poor shoulder setting, postural dysfunction, and deficits in balance/coordination. Mobility is important for muscle and joint restrictions to regain range of motion to avoid injury, but faulty movement patterns will cause more of a problem in the long run.
How do you I know if you have any of these issues? Most likely, your coaches have addressed some of these issues as you have learned to perform CrossFit movements with good technique and form. It is critical to develop proper technique and movement patterns before you push the intensity and load! At NoCoast we offer a truly unique combination of CrossFit coaching and physical therapy services that only a few gyms in the world provide. As Doctors of Physical Therapy, we are trained to assess all of these aspects listed above, as well as screen for other medical conditions that are not within our scope of practice to treat. In the state of CO, it is not required that you see a physician prior to coming to physical therapy (Direct Access State). Please take advantage of what we have to offer using your free movement screen or PT Evaluation to discover what areas you might need to work on! We also have established an Injured Athlete Recovery Plan that allows people with injuries to continue doing CrossFit in a modified way while you rehab your injury. Heather Shaughnessy and I also provide treatment sessions, where we can help you work on some of the issues that cannot be addressed with self-guided interventions or stretching. We are so grateful to be able to cultivate our minds and knowledge to help our members reach their fitness goals and become a stronger, better, and faster machines.
Please contact Mary Finck, PT, DPT to book your Movement Assessment mary@nocoastcrossfit.com
All of your prices and series are listed on our website!
