Can we spread the risk? A demand-share perspective to sustained hamstring health. Practical examples.

This short practical paper gives examples of exercises of synergists that assist the biceps femoris long head, the most commonly injured hamstring muscle in repeated sprint field sports (soccer, rugby) with the aim of reducing risk of or recurrence of injury. It is a companion to the theoretical piece of the same name.

Adapting to floor sitting and kneeling.

This short practical article suggests that for those unused to ground living, increasing their time spent in sitting or kneeling postures may improve their adaptation of their passive and active joint structures by using low stools, mats, blocks, yoga bricks, bolsters/cushions, and rolled towels. A very slow approach to adaptation and a deliberate reduction of extremes of available lower limb joint range, in the beginning of the process, is likely to reduce possible tissue overload injury risk.

A short consideration of exercise for gluteal tendinopathies.

Gluteal tendinopathies have become significantly better understood over the past few years, primarily due to the work of Alison Grimaldi and her research associates. This brief summary highlights some key points of their work and some exercise suggestions for treatment.

The Double Knee Swing Test - a practical example of The Performance Matrix Movement Screen.

Movement screens have been suggested as an appropriate tool to identify 'uncontrolled movement' within the human neuromusculoskeletal system. Movement screens test the Central Nervous System along with the muscular system, for their combined ability to successfully control low threshold forces, such as those affecting posture and alignment, or, high threshold forces, such as those requiring muscular strength to control. Further information such as the identification of an anatomical site and direction of a potential uncontrolled movement can be elicited by this type of testing. This paper describes a low threshold, movement screen test, designed to be part of a battery of tests, which when used as a whole, can identify injury risk or factors affecting performance limitations. The testing is suggested to be a suitable assessment tool for Pilates Teachers working in a rehabilitative environment.

Pilates: ranging beyond neutral--a practical discussion.

The presence of 'uncontrolled movement' within the human neuromusculoskeletal system can be found if the movement control system (mind) and muscular system (body) is tested for their combined ability to successfully control low threshold forces, such as those affecting posture and alignment, or, high threshold forces, such as those requiring muscular strength to control. Deciding which exercises are the best to 'fix' the uncontrolled movements found is a fundamental part of the rehabilitative process. It has been suggested that specific exercises are best suited to fix specific faults. Direction Control and Range Control exercises are postulated as two key types of specific exercises that should be used when specific uncontrolled movements are found. In this paper, examples of the application of these two types of exercises are discussed, as is the fact that the 'mind and body' focused Pilates method already uses these two key exercise types as elements within its own system of exercise.