Foam Roller... what is it good for?

Foam rolling has become popular in the last ten years.   Most gyms and trainers promote its use, while some athletes swear by it.  The proposed mechanism of foam rolling is to break down soft tissue adhesions, and to relax muscles, but do they actually accomplish that?

There are no clinical studies with solid evidence that support either mechanism, but I will do my best to summarize the proposed theories so you can understand what you are trying to accomplish while foam rolling.  I will also touch on other uses for your foam roller such as rolling pizza dough (kidding). 

The Flip Side of Inversion Tables

Earlier this week I was at my neighbourhood Globo Gym (reference from the movie Dodgeball), when I saw a personal trainer put what looked like a 65 year old man with a stenotic antalgic posture onto an inversion table.  Now I have to admit I have limited use/knowledge of these tables so my curiosity took over and I was hooked.  The grey haired, over weight man was strapped onto the table and then without hesitation he was flipped 180 degrees to weightless tranquility… right?  Well, probably not.  As I continued to ride nowhere on my stationary bike I watched the man go all the way up and then back to the inverted position every few minutes for multiple reps until he was literally red in the face.  That, my friends, is the reason I asked myself, what happens your body when you are flipped upside down?

To ICE or to HEAT, that is the question!

We have all applied ice or heat to an injury, but are we applying them at the right time? Many people tell me they are applying heat to an injury when they should be icing, others tell me they have been icing when they would benefit from heat. Then there is the group of people that does not do either because they are unsure what they should be using when! This post will clarify when to use ice and heat.

Acupuncture. Getting to the root of trigger points.

Are you in a vulnerable position during your work day that causes your back, neck and shoulders to ache throughout and at the end of your day?

If you answered yes, you are not alone!

Running Surfaces...do they matter?

Have you ever run off-road to give your body a break from the joint pounding pavement?

Or do you switch up your road workouts for a softer surface and feel as though your muscles are still fresh at the end of it?

These are common statements in the running community, but what does a change in running surface actually do to your body?