Posts by Team Symmetry PT
What is Contract-Relax Stretching?
What is Contract-Relax Stretching? Contract-relax stretching is a form of PNF stretching. PNF stands for proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. What does that mean? It means that it uses natural reflexes to further the stretching response. In contract-relax stretching, you must first isometrically contract the opposite muscle. Then after contracting, try to further stretch the intended target. For…
Read MoreFront Squat Vs. Back Squat: How do they differ?
So many people at the gym are performing both front squats and back squats, without ever really understanding the difference. How are they different? What muscles do they elicit? While all squats generally elicit the same muscles, the different lies in which are fired more during which movement. The muscles of squat we will investigate…
Read MoreWhy Should I Train in Quadruped?
WHAT IS QUADRUPED? Quadruped is the position where both hands and knees are on the ground. It is the starting position of crawling that all children do. When young babies are learning to walk, quadruped helps them develop curves in their spine and core strength. For adults, there are so many more reasons to add…
Read More“Good Form”: What does that really mean?
WHAT IS GOOD FORM? Many people try to tell you what good form is by nit-picking exercises. To execute an exercise safely and get the most of it, there are aspects that must be performed. While trying to perform an exercise with “good form”, it is important to remember that everyone’s body is different. Not everyone’s exercise…
Read More3 Causes of Hamstring Tightness
Before we can dive into what may cause hamstring tightness, it is important to understand exactly what the hamstring muscle group does for the body. HAMSTRING ANATOMY: The “Hamstring” is actually a group of three muscles on the back of the leg. These hamstring muscles work together to collectively perform hip extension (lifting your leg…
Read MoreThe Difference between Exercise Variation and Movement Variation
This piece explains what exercise variation and movement variation are, and how they can help or hurt your training if not implemented appropriately. WHAT IS EXERCISE VARIATION? Exercise variation is exactly what it sounds like. It means you do a bunch of different kinds of exercises. Exercise variation can be in reference to one workout, or…
Read MoreCan Exercise cause Happiness?
What do I need to know about the brain? Before we tell you: does exercise cause happiness, Let’s learn a little about the brain. The brain has a bunch of nerves that “talk to each other”. Basically, these nerves communicate by passing notes. Notes, in the brain, are chemicals called neurotransmitters. So, these notes (or neurotransmitters)…
Read MoreWhat is so important about the spine?
What makes up the spine? There are 3 major elements that make up the spine: 1. vertebrae: The vertebrae are the bones that make up the spine. These bone’s primary purpose is to provide a hard protective layer around the spinal cord. They also provide an attachment point for the arms, and legs to the center…
Read MoreShoulder stability, why do we need it?
Shoulder stability is important for developing and maintaining healthy shoulders. Before we get into why it is important, let’s look at some shoulder basics. When people think of the shoulder they think of a ball-and-socket joint made up of the arm bone (humerus) and shoulder blade (scapula). However, the shoulder is so much more complex.…
Read MoreWhat is the Pec Muscle and Why was It Injured During CrossFit Regionals?
WHAT DOES THE PEC MUSCLE DO? The pectoralis major, or pec major, muscle attaches to your sternum and collar bone on your chest and connects to a grove on your upper arm. It is responsible for four primary motions: Horizontal Adduction: bringing your arm across your chest Internal rotation: rotating your shoulder inward toward your…
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