Gut Check

Responders, please pay attention!

In the 'Back to Feeling Great' book there is an entire section dedicated to testing. The movement and biomechanical tests are accurate and valid, they can be applied to a vast population safely and can be re-tested bi-annualy. Without testing the base movements in the body we have no way of actually knowing what is working properly versus what is a cheat pattern. The best athletes cheat through a movement. it does not mean they are secure from injury just that they have mechanically figured out how to get it done faster, which we know is not always better.

I assessed a neighbor yesterday (she is teaching my wife to play piano) and she has a HX of Right sided Lower back Pain. With symptoms of 'popping' in the lower back and calf/foot numbness we have a problem. Now, this very smart lady has been to chiropractors, oriental medicine physicians, pilates instructors, massage therapists and her sister is a Physical Therapist. Do you think anyone picked up on her underlying issue? NO. I took her through the same tests in the 'Fit Responder' book plus a few ortho. tests and guess what? Pelvis is weak, and her spinal SEGMENTAL STABILIZERS are non existent. She shows signs of degenerative joint/disk and spinal instability. With really strong gross motor muscles(abs/obliques/quads/hip flexors)from years of pilates and yoga and a total inability to find and maintain NEUTRAL SPINE she has lost the ability to stabilize her spine = pain and popping. I put her into a standing neutral spine position with a slight hip hinge and she was totally pain free (it's in the book). When she gets back from the spine doctor I sent her to and we know exactly what her spine looks like I will help get her back to many of the activities she enjoys, pain free. All this took less than 45 min. to assess and teach some corrective exercises.

If I could go this far that quickly with such a level of accuracy why are we not doing this stuff on a departmental or clinical level on each person? Am I the only one that can see how much time/money will be saved by finding it and fixing it before it's broken?