Joint by Joint

At E3Sports we are constantly monitoring an athletes' performance and reassessing factors that may limit one's athletic ability. By properly warming the body up joint by joint we are providing the impetus to safely start a training program the right way and decreasing the body's injury potential. Our Performance Specialists will start your warm up from the ground up because everything starts at ground level.

Ankles must be mobile to initiate proper kinetic movement. The ankle joint is constantly rolled or sprained in sport because of a lack of mobility. One can train the ankle with specific movements that in a sense lubricate the ankle allowing for increased range of motion. Often times when ankle sprains occur we should look at the knee as well or the joint above the injured area. If the ankle lacks mobility guess where it is going to get it from? If you said the knee--winner winner chicken dinner--you are right! The knee needs to be a stable joint and when mobility transcends from the ankle then we have big problems.

Knees are hinge joints that are not made to rotate but aid in the absorption of force between the ankle and hip. One Stability exercise for the knee include lunges in various planes of motion and should start with stationary actions progressing into more active movements. If knee pain is associated with exercises don't always think that the knee is the problem--look at joint above or below, the ankle and hip.

Hip mobility exercises can cure many aches and pains associated with the lower back and knees. The hip was designed to move while the lumbar spine was not. When the hip doesn't move efficiently it can pull on the lumbar spine to gain an increased range of motion which causes stress in the lower back. Below the hip sits the knee joint in which pain is caused sometimes from a functional movement such as a squat. The squat is a complex movement with an array of actions rippling through the body. If there is a lack of mobility in the hips during a squat then your knees may feel it tremendously because your body is compensating for the movement pattern. Additionally, if your ankles lack the mobility while squatting your knees will hurt as well. As you can see, mobility and stability issues must be addressed in the body before any training takes place if you want to eventually be pain free.

Go to strengthcoach.com to read more about the joint by joint approach.