Our client Jamie provides a detailed account of his experience at Performance EDU as he prepares for the heli skiing season in Alaska.
When recovering from a knee injury, focusing on developing the hamstring muscles is crucial for a successful rehabilitation process. The hamstring muscles play a significant role in knee stability and function, making their strengthening essential for preventing future injuries and improving overall knee health.
After a knee injury, especially involving the ligaments like the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) or meniscus, the surrounding muscles, including the hamstrings, can weaken due to disuse or compensation patterns. This weakness can lead to imbalances in muscle strength around the knee joint, increasing the risk of re-injury or other complications.
Developing the hamstring muscles post-knee injury offers several key benefits:
Enhanced Knee Stability: Strong hamstrings provide stability to the knee joint, reducing the risk of instability and further injuries during daily activities or sports.
Improved Range of Motion: Strengthening the hamstrings can help improve flexibility and range of motion in the knee, aiding in better movement patterns and reducing strain on the joint.
Balanced Muscle Strength: Building strength in the hamstrings helps restore the balance between the quadriceps (front thigh muscles) and hamstrings, which is crucial for optimal knee function and joint alignment.
Prevention of Compensation Patterns: Weak hamstrings can lead to compensatory movements that put additional stress on other structures in the leg, such as the knee joint or hip muscles. Strengthening the hamstrings can help correct these compensations.
Faster Recovery: Developing the hamstring muscles as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program can expedite the recovery process and improve functional outcomes post-injury.
To effectively develop the hamstring muscles after a knee injury, a combination of exercises targeting both knee flexion and hip extension is recommended. Exercises like hamstring curls, Romanian deadlifts, glute-ham raises, and bridges can be beneficial in strengthening the hamstrings while promoting proper movement patterns.
Unlocking Hip Mobility with Super Bands
Understanding Hip Tension
The hips are a central hub of movement for the body, supporting our core and connecting the lower body to the upper body. Modern lifestyles often lead to tightness and immobility in the hip region due to prolonged sitting and lack of movement. Super bands, also known as resistance bands, are a versatile tool for hip mobilizations. They provide a unique resistance that can help deepen stretches, challenge muscles through their range of motion, and offer support that allows for more controlled mobilization.
1. Banded Hip Distraction
Anchor the super band to a sturdy object at hip level.
Loop the other end around your thigh, just below your glutes.
Step back to create tension in the band and allow it to pull your hip forward.
Move in and out of different positions, such as lunges or squats, to explore various angles of hip mobilization.
Benefits of Super Band Hip Mobilizations
Improved Flexibility: Regularly performing these exercises can lead to greater hip flexibility.
Enhanced Joint Health: Mobilizations help maintain healthy joint function and can alleviate discomfort from tightness.
Better Movement Patterns: With increased mobility, you may find an improvement in your overall movement patterns during exercise and daily activities.
Injury Prevention: Flexible and mobile hips can reduce the risk of injuries in exercises that involve the lower body.
This exercise is an excellent way to improve stability in your downward leg while your extended leg provides a stable point for your hip and core. The arm that pulls the dumbbell creates a rotational pattern in your spine, improving spinal mobility and engaging your core.
KIME Physical Therapy Owner, Tony Mikla, shares some effective dry needling techniques. @kimeperformancept Dry needling is a specialized treatment administered by certified physical therapists. It involves the use of a thin monofilament needle to target muscular trigger points beneath the skin, effectively managing neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments. #performancedu #kimept #physicaltherapy #dryneedling #rehab #bloodflow
Struggling with tight hips? Give the quad hip flexor stretch a try at home, or the "couch stretch" for relief. Check out the video for progressions to the movement!
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Looking to relieve lower back tightness? Give these two movements a try to open up your hips, adductors, and lower back. For more information, visit our website.
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Pigeon Pose is a highly effective hip opener that targets both areas, engaging the front leg in external rotation and positioning the back leg to stretch the psoas.
