Monday Moves: Back in action

No, I have not forgotten about Monday Moves.  I did take a brief hiatus as lately my life has been in a state of constant movement.  Since November 14th, I have moved from Madison, Wisconsin, started a new job, visited South Georgia and Chattanooga, and continued to settle in (as much as possible) to a new schedule and job setting.  Life is good.  God provided a short-term job and even though it may be making me feel slightly crazy at times...it is a good thing.  It has been fun to be back in the traditional athletic training setting.  I do believe that everything is preparing you for the next thing...you just never quite know what the next thing is.  The athletic training room has been the perfect spot to practice this belief as there is a lot of preparations for the next thing going on constantly.  It seems like a place where you continually "hurry up to wait."  There is also a lot of movement going on and that is what the body is made for - so, I'm sorry for my neglect of Monday Moves  these past few weeks.  But we are back and for the next few weeks we will be hitting movements that are action packed for the posture.

The first weekend of November I attended a CEU course that focused on "Assessment and Treatment of Muscle Imbalance" using the Janda Approach.  It was a quick introduction to the teachings of the late Professor Vladimir Janda, MD who was a pioneer in treating muscle imbalance and chronic musculoskeletal pain.  This workshop was definitely an information overload weekend for me.  I am still trying to understand and put into practice some of the principles from this workshop.  One thing that resonated with me was assessment of the posture and how it contributes to our movement patterns.

Living in this day and age so much of our function is performed in front of our body.  Whether it is typing on the computer, fixing a meal or dribbling a basketball, our focus is placed in front of the body.

Today's exercise incorporates movements that reverse this habitual posture.   Start with wrapping a long theraband around your wrist.  Then from this computer sitting posture, extend your fingers and wrist.   Rotate your forearms upward as though you are holding a soup bowl.  Begin to lengthen the distance in between your hands by extending your elbows and arms.  Then repeat.

Check out this video with a demonstration of this Brugger Exercise.

It would be great to add this exercise into your daily life by keeping a theraband at your desk or in your living room.  And since extension movement are stimulating to the nervous system try this exercise in the afternoon instead of reaching for a caffeine jolt.