Introduction to 3-D PelTrunkUlaRus

It's interesting that where you can find a muse. As a self-appointed "writer", I look for everyday situations that will inspire me to write. The most interesting thing is that the muses reveal themselves exactly when they need to propel me to the blog to write. Big THANKS to Matt M. who was my muse for today and a big THANKS to Gary Gray and David Tiberio from the Gray Institute for their explation of the  PELTRUNKULARUS!!!!

What is PELTRUNKULARUS????

Well, it is a word created by Gray and Tiberio that is a combination of Pelvis, Trunk, Scapula and Humerus but the wisdom of this word is that it's not only a combination of anatomical structures but takes into the consideration of a very important chain reaction in the body. For instance, in a baseball pitch, basketball jump shot, football pass or lacrosse shot, require these structures to be connected in a perfect synchronization for optimal speed and power.

Referring back to our Principles of Function, we know that Peltrunkularus is 3-D in that it moves in 3 planes of motion as well as that it is DRIVEN. This is especially important to remember because it can either driven from the Top to Bottom or Bottom to Top.

Why is it important to understand PELTRUNKULARUS???

As we look at clients/athletes/ourselves, we see that when we are performing a task such as reaching for a box on the floor, picking up our child, throwing a baseball, etc that a reach with the hand causes a reaction down to pelvis (and lower). However, when we do not use our whole 3-D body, we can start to overuse a particular segement and not get all we can out of the movement. It's important to remember that the body will always choose the path of least resistance so if it can get away with just rotating at the lumbar spine as we pick up our Christmas tree, instead of having the pelvis rotate to turn on the big muscles of the butt, it will. Overtime, this may get us into trouble.

Regardless if we are rehabbing, training and conditioning or programming for injury prevention, it would benefit us and our clients/patients to keep this mind.

An example of using the strategy of PELTRUNKULARUS

My athlete, Matt, who is a lacrosse player is looking to develop his explosive speed. As a midfielder, he may be jogging and have to break into a sprint at any moment while trying to shake another player. Fortunately, Matt and I had the chance to work together all summer and he made great gains in power and speed and was still looking for more. As I watched him move, I noticed that a lot of his changes of direction were being primarily driven from the bottom up, meaning that he would drop his hip then rotate them in the direction he wanted to go. This is a great strategy as it has allowed him to move better and stay injury free during fall ball; however, we needed to get a little more explosiveness out of him. Because we know that function is DRIVEN, we decided to use a more Top-down driver. As a lacrosse player, Matt is using his stick for a variety of reasons, so he felt pretty confident that we could use his arms to drive him into the direction we wanted to go. This will not be a huge move but it will definitely allow him to get into and explode out of the TRANSFORMATIONAL ZONE better. My strategy was to be able to take him into that place a bit faster using the arms(humers) that would send a chain reaction down through the scapula, trunk and pelvis to load those important back and front butt muscles. 

The first thing I had Matt do was to do the lunge matrix with 15lb dumbbells in both hands reaching to ankle height everytime; however, I really wanted him to reach or drive his hands down toward the ground so he could take advantage of the extra mass and momentum to get an appropriate ground reaction force that would eventually load the muscles of the body to allow him to return back to neutral or his next lunge. From there, we took it a little more dynamic from a walk, to a jog, to a sprint with Matt using his arms in either direction that I cued him to get into the TRANSFORMATION ZONE quicker to load and explode. For more information about the PELTRUNKULARUS strategy, go to the Gray Institute or check out the Scapula video from the Functional Video Digest Series

This is just one example of PELTRUNKULARUS. As I work with people, I am aware of it whether I'm assessing, post-rehabbing, or training and conditioning. Next time you see someone reach for something, see if there is a reaction throughout their body. Check out your favorite pitcher, quarterback, basketball player as they throw. If their fundamentals are sound, you will see a beautiful coordination of their body that will result in a poweful full 3-D body movement.

Happy Monday to all!!!!

Will

The Transformative Power of 3-D Chain Reactions

Once in a while, I have the opportunity to step back from my daily routine and look around. It's always interesting to me that when I step back, I can take a look at what I'm really doing in my life. For me, that introspection can be very powerful. I think it can be so powerful that the moment we see ourselves,  we can make a choice to change if necessary, and if we make that choice to change, a chain reaction of mind/body/spirit happens.

Last week, I had the privilege of going out to San Diego, CA to attend a Chain Reaction Transformation Seminar with Gary Gray PT, Dr. David Tiberio PT and Doug Gray. This was my second time going and while it's the same seminar, it's only the same in name only. Being a Fellow of Applied Functional Science, we have been through the material that they cover in the CRT seminar in great detail but it seems that everytime I go, I learn something different. Another great thing about being a Fellow is that we are able to go as guests which equates to many of the Fellows getting together at the seminar.  What is amazing to me is how much brain power is in the room. There are PTs, CPTs, PTA's, Strength Coaches, ATCs, all in one room for the same reason of LEARNING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE WE COME IN CONTACT WITH. The seminar director, Gary Gray, has this amazing ability to not only see the body but to see the mind and spirit also. As a movement therapist and enhancement specialist, I truly believe that if we affect a peresons body, we are also affecting their mind and spirit. It's back to that Principle of Function that Function is 3-D, and in this case, mind/body/spirit.

Once in a while, questions arise in my mind. Most of the time these questions are wrapped in self-doubt and trepidation of what was, is and will be. These questions usually set off a chain reaction that gets me anxious, tired and cranky and when that happens, I'm really no use to anyone, including myself. However, when I can actually step back, take a breath and see the situation for what it is, I experience clarity and I am anchored back to why I really am in this profession. 

For those out there who are in the health profession, no matter what you do, it is easy to get drained and worn down. It seems that peoples woes are endless and that we are not putting a dent in the big picture of illness and dysfunction. When I take that view and run with it, I find that I am not in this profession for someone else. I'm doing it for me. However, to that one client or patient that we interact with, we are the ones that they have put their trust in to help them get better. However, we have to remember that WE DO NOT HEAL ANYONE. We do not have the power to heal. What we do have is the gift is to work with our clients and patients to create an environment where healing can take place. If there is a block to healing, we can help them remove that block but the wisdom of the body is that it actually heals itself. Once the body has a clear path, it will heal itself. It is truly the power of chain reactions.

Interestingly enough, the same strategy applies to the mind and spirit. However, sometimes it takes an  "injury" where we need to step back and see what is going on. Sometimes we can clear the block ourselves, sometimes we need somone or something to clear it for us. However, I find when that happens, the chain reactions that take place not only affect us but everyone around us.

Have you taken ONE moment today to step back, be objective and look around? It is so easy to get into our routines that one moment out of the day may seem completely out of the ordinary. Well, it is. It should be. Just remember that there is a thin line between being in the groove and being in a rut.

Step back. See what's going on and see if your strategy for that day is fitting the situation. If not, change it up. Just remember to anchor to your Principles of Function.

Happy Monday!!!

Will

3-D Movement Focus: The Art and Science of Hatha Yoga

(Dedicated to all members of the US Armed Forces, past and present)

I have been a yogi since 1996, and every year I learn something new about the practice. It is truly amazing and I am going to give my teacher Paula D. Atkinson props again. She is such an inspiration for me doing yoga.

As I traveled down my yogic path, I discovered so many nuances about the practice. However, these nuances left me with many questions. With the Mind/Body/Spirit aspect of yoga, I came to realize that when you work with one of the aspects, you are really working with all of them. However, I think a big question in my mind was "Why and how is yoga such an efficient stretching practice?" To me, it's way above any other stretching protocol. I recommend the practice to anyone who wants to change their lives. However, the question of "WHY AND HOW IT IS SO EFFECTIVE?" remained.

3-D Hips: Power and Speed in Lacrosse

I enjoy writing, talking and teaching about 3-D Hips. I truly believe they are the power source of the body and it's usually the first place I go in the body if to look for dysfunction. Usually an hour or so with 3-D hip work, I can usually get pretty good results with better movement from an athlete. From there, we can really  develop more power and speed for their respective sport.

This summer I had the pleasure of working with one of my former athletes who is now at major university playing Lacrosse. At the beginning of the summer, Matt and I sat down and really discussed what he needed in terms of performance enhancement and what was expected of him in his position. From there, I took Matt through a basic evaluation to see where he was. This was not your typical max bench, squat, deadlift, etc tests. Functionally, Matt needed to be quicker and explosive not necessarily bigger/stronger. Don't get me wrong, he definitely needed to be stronger but  full-body functionally stronger.

I hesistate to use that word "functional" because has become very distorted. However, for lack of a better term, I will use it. For Matt, he needed to be able to move in all three planes of motions with mobility and stability which would translate to more power and speed. With this, he also needed to get a faster shot. Well, this was going to be fun.

Welcome to November and RULE NUMBER 6

Happy November to all!!!

I apologize for not posting sooner, but it has been pretty crazy with football, soccer, cross country, and HALLOWEEN which was especially fun this year.

I have been saying that I was going to start doing a lot of things in November, and I fully intend on following through. Some of the new additions to 3-D Performance Guide will be:

• Educational Videos
• Movement Sequences/Workouts
• Specific Applications of the functional anatomy and physiology
• "I am Will's body" funtional muscle function series
• More 3-D joints like the shoulder, spine, foot/ankle
• Food for thought posts

As we move into the new month, we are moving into the holiday season where we typically get very busy with parties, jobs, and definitely more stress. It seems we are pulled in even more directions than normal and we start to lose ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually. I have found myself being a little less than enthusiastic lately, and a little cranky and rushed. When I get to that point, I step back and am reminded of a story that goes like this.

Two prime ministers are sitting in a room discussing affairs of state. Suddenly a man bursts in, apoplectic with fury, shouting and stamping and banging his fist on the desk. The resident prime minister admonishes him: "Peter," he says, "kindly remember Rule Number 6," whereupon Peter is instantly restored to complete calm, apologizes, and withdraws.

The politicians return to their conversation, only to be interupted yet again twenty minutes later by an hysterical woman gesticulating wildly, her hair flying. Again the intruder is greeted with the words: "Marie, please remember Rule Number 6." Complete calm descends once more, and she too withdraws with a bow and an apology.

When the scene is repeated for a third time, the visiting prime minister addresses his colleague: "My dear friend, I’ve seen many things in my life, but never anything as remarkable as this. Would you be willing to share with me the secret of Rule Number 6?" "Very simple," replies the resident prime minister. "Rule Number 6 is ‘Don’t take yourself so damn seriously."

"Ah," says his visitor, "that is a fine rule." After a moment of pondering, he inquires, "And what, may I ask, are the other rules?"

"There aren’t any."

As we approach this month, lets stay focused on our 3-D Optimal Peformance by taking a few moments out of each hour to remember RULE NUMBER 6. I am willing to bet that things will go much smoother if you do.

Happy Wednesday!!!

Will