Stretch of the Week: Reclined Cobbler’s Stretch
February’s focus for our weekly stretches will be for the inner thighs.
The inner thighs are largely composed of five muscles: Pectineus, Adductor Longus, Gracillis, Adductor brevis, and Adductor magnus. These muscles are primarily responsible for adduction, such as when crossing the leg past the mid-line of the body towards the opposite side. They play a critical role in our day to day functions including standing and walking. Therefore, it is important to maintain both their flexibility and strength to help prevent injuries. (more…)
Take Care of Your Injury Sooner Rather Than Later
We’ve all been there at one point or another. Dealing with daily pain can be a constant ritual of our day just like eating breakfast or combing your hair. (more…)
Coaching Body Contact in Hockey: Defense & Working the Boards
Hockey is a graceful game that requires players to participate in manner that requires body contact regardless of whether checking is permitted. Any avid hockey player can acknowledge the difference between a “body check” and “body contact” but occasionally the line can be blurred when a player’s skill level is questionable and when an official’s subjective interpretation is applied to the game. (more…)
Snow Shoveling Stretches
Snow is beautiful when falling to the ground, but it is hard work to clear it out of the way. To keep from getting too sore, try these three exercises after shoveling all of that snow.
The Winter Blues
Many people talk about cross-training in the winter and even throughout the running season. Does this mean to include swimming and biking? Why is it important? How can you benefit from cross-training?
Cross training does include replacing running with lower impact activities, such as swimming and biking. However, it also is stretching and strengthening. (more…)
Year End Yard Maintenance: Don’t Let It Get You Down
The air is getting colder, the holidays are approaching, and the leaves (or snowflakes) are falling! In the days and weeks leading up to the holiday season, most people inevitably find themselves outside in their yards either raking or shoveling snow. Raking or shoveling can be the most strenuous of household tasks and you should take proper precautions in order to avoid back strains and other injuries. (more…)
Hockey Training Tip: Off-Ice Balance Training
Lower extremity strength training is a priority when considering a comprehensive training program for youth hockey players. Most coaches consider dynamic stretching, functional strengthening and plyometric training to be enough. However in a sport where agility and balance are essential it is important to consider how players can improve these components off the ice. (more…)
Cubital Tunnel: The “Other” Tunnel
“Just one more page.” One minute you’re being pulled into a great mystery novel and the next thing…your fingers are tingling. Shaking out your hand and moving your elbow in and out seem to return your fingers to normal but a few pages later, the tingling returns, especially in the small finger. Perhaps your first thought is, “Carpal tunnel syndrome.” A quick Internet search only causes more confusion. You might have cubital tunnel syndrome. (more…)
