Transformation!

Transformation - the buzz word in the fitness business!

Here is a 2 treatment transformation of a slightly different kind.

Ultimate Performance Mayfair,

Ultimate Performance have now opened a new 5000 square foot gym in Mayfair.  Here we have Pete "The Beast" and Glen "I'm Famous" Parker training legs!

I will be based at Mayfair on wednesdays, contact me for information or follow the link to the UP website (links section of the blog).

Brucebutlertherapy you tube channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/brucebutlertherapy

look out for new videos...

More hurdling - Stefan Holm in action

I bet he didn't train with the Vipr!

Damien Walters in action....

Another classic from You-Tube.

Linford Christie Plyometric Training

Here we have Linford Christie in action, check out the single leg drills! Great You-Tube video.


What is hugely evident is the stiffness and integrity of the foot and ankle during the various jumps, look at the lack of dorsi-flexion on landing, hence, no dampening of GRF and therefore force leakage. Great evidence for the requirement of foot/ankle/knee stiffness conditioning.

Daz Parker - Shoulder injury

Here we have the fractured Greater Tubercle of professional triathlete Daz Parker.  This injury was sustained whilst racing and due to a crash off the bike, Parker did, however, finish the race.

Rehab is now under way post reconstruction.  ROM being, initially, severely restricted in all but GH extension. Various ART protocols were/and are being employed to facilitate ROM and strength.  Of specific note here are the protocols involving distal release of Supraspinatus and general subscapularis.  The former, when combined with general release of the GH capsule, being particularly useful as the superior aspect of the reconstruction had become adhered to the inferior surface of the Acromion.

Daz is about to resume training!

the cable wood chop is a terrible exercise!

This is really just a rant! and before i begin, I'm referring to a high to low cable wood chop, specifically when performed with spinal flexion and rotation.  There are, unfortunately, many demonstrations of this on you tube.

Firstly, loading spinal flexion and rotation places the spine under a tremendous destructive load, it's a crunch with rotation, its not functional or beneficial simply because it loads the abdominal muscles and uses some fancy cable equipment.

Secondly, the constant load produced by the apparatus, requires an isotonic contraction from the musculature involved.  This again is non-functional, the kinetic chain would never have to operate in this way, especially not, and ironically, when chopping wood with an axe or whilst brandishing a sledge hammer! During these movements force is initially generated by a combination of flexion and rotation combined with gravity, however, once accelerated there follows a period of relaxation as momentum takes over.  On impact, stiffness and therefore further contraction will occur, this, if optimum and safe force is to be generated will take place in a position of neutral braced spine.  The movement would then be stopped by the impact or the follow through decelerated by the extensor chain and counter rotational musculature.  Basically, the real chop is a totally different movement pattern, in terms of loading and sequencing of muscular contraction, than the cable version.  Only joint motion is similar.

If the cable is to be put to any use, hip and shoulder alignment should be maintained, utilizing the abdominal muscles in their intended function, as torque convertors, preventing rotation through the trunk and therefore allowing force to be generated through the entire body safely, primarily via the hip and shoulder.

Trainers should consider carefully when and where to use isotonic load, if at all, and certainly consider spinal positioning whilst under load.

Trainees should never use you-tube as a source of exercise advice!!

Professor Stuart McGill in action

Here we have Professor McGill demonstrating spinal control during a sled pull.  I recently attended a two day workshop with McGill in Manchester UK, full report to come with some tips on pre-squat screening.

Jose Martinez - Testimonial

"I play beach volleyball at a national level. When I am not on the sand, I am at the gym, swimming or running. It was while training for a half-marathon back in October last year (just to keep me fit during winter) when I started to feel some pain on the back of my left knee. I saw several physios and was always given different diagnostics: The IT band, not enough muscle mass, etc.

 By February, the pain was so intense that I could barely walk, so I decided to have an MRI scan, fearing that I was going to miss the beach season this year. The scan showed an impression of partial tear of the ACL as well as a cyst on the back of the knee. I was devastated!

A friend of mine who is into Triathlon referred me to Bruce.

After just one session with Bruce the injury improved radically. I walked limping into the physio room and walked out walking almost normally. He was able to isolate and reduce the cyst, and most important, to identify the cause of all this mess: an old injury on the hamstring

The fact is that after just two sessions with Bruce, I went from being in constant pain, walking and moving with great difficulties to being back to my usual beach training and sport routines.  

I am aware there is still lot of work to do before we can say I am fully recovered but, thanks to Bruce, I am looking forward for start of the season again"

Thanks to Jose for the testimonial and images provided for this post.  Treatment here was straightforward involving the use of Active Release Technique on Hamstrings and Sciatic Nerve.