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.  

Thanks to the Foundry!

The Foundry,

http://www.foundryfit.co.uk

recently published my blog post on barefoot running.  Thanks to Dave and his team.

Barefoot Ted will be making an appearance on May the 14th, see their website for details.

Martyn Sklayne - Testimonial

Here we have Martyn Sklayne, bodybuilding achievements listed with a brief testimonial.

1st place UKBFF Lemngton Spa under 70kg - 2006
6th place FAME London Championships 2010
4th place BNBF Southern Championships Lightweight Cat 2010

"I went to Bruce at Ultimate Performance to assess a long standing hip dysfunction on the left side that had been bothering me for the last 3 years.

He quickly diagnosed the nature of the dysfunction and set upon it to correct it. I saw Bruce for a total of 2 hours and in that time he has improved the hip more than the last 3 years of physiotherapy has managed to achieve. My hip has already improved tremendously and I’m sure this will carry over to improved performance in the gym.

His treatments were a worthwhile investment. And I would highly recommend his services"

For more information about Martyn and his personal training services go to www.trainwithsklayne.co.uk

Psoas Major - quick facts and theories

Due to the interest in the Psoas release post on this blog, I thought a few facts and theories might be of interest to readers.

Fact - Psoas Major (PM) is not an effective hip flexor.  The structure of the muscle and fibre orientation, this being unipennate, with a medial to lateral orientation of 45-75 degrees, allows a total shortening of only  1.5 (posterior fascicles) and 2.25cm (anterior fascicles).  This does not create sufficient shortening ability to contribute to the full range of hip flexion, but does create sufficient shortening to coincide with average range for pelvic tilt.  Acknowledgement - Comeford & Gibbons.

Fact - The PM tendon is not proximal to the Iliopectineal Bursa, this lies lateral to it under the body of the Iliacus.  This, again, draws into doubt the function of the PM as a flexor.

Fact - The PM has fascial attachment onto the anterior surface of the innominate and Sacrum.

Fact - The anterior and posterior fascicles of PM have different innervation, with the former being Femoral nerve and the latter directly and segmentally from the Ventral Ramii.

Theories of PM function,

- PM can be classified as both a Local Stabiliser (posterior fascicles) and a Global Stabiliser (anterior fascicles).
- PM local stabiliser function, segmental stabilisation of lumber spine, acting with other "inner unit" spinal stabilisers and demonstrating the same mechanisms of dysfunction, i.e. segmental atrophy/weakness and activation delay, post trauma/pain.
- PM global stabiliser function, posterior tilt of the pelvis at the SIJ (force closure of the SIJ!), centring of the femoral head in the acetabulum via tensioning of the PM tendon - note no significant movement is required of the tendon over the pelvic brim to accomplish this, hence, no Bursa.

Specifically regarding the final point above, readers should note the huge multi-planar hip ROM improvements possible when PM is activated, this being due to, in the absence of other restriction, joint congruency facilitated by PM.

Readers may be aware, and wish to challenge some of the above, with note to the available evidence that PM is maximumly active at 90 degrees of hip flexion (and therefore a hip flexor?).  The proposal here, as presented by Comerford,  is simply that PM co-contracts to control pelvic tilt as the hip flexes, a force couple.

Further posts will discuss activation and training strategies............

Active Release Technique - Vastus Medialis

Here we have another demonstration of the versatility of Active Release Technique.  The clip shows one of the possible positions for release of the Vastus Medialis.  The technique is being employed here to facilitate improvement in ROM several years post ACL reconstruction, where post surgical procedure and initial rehabilitation had failed to establish full flexion and extension.  The athlete shown being an ex-international Handball player from Poland.

Active Release Technique now at Club 51

Club 51, (New Cavendish Street, London W1), will now be providing ART as a stand alone treatment, both to existing and new clients.  A clinic will run initially on Wednesday afternoons from 1pm.

For further information please contact me at info@brucebutler.co.uk

For information about Club 51 contact Jon Denoris via the club website, link below.

http://www.clubfiftyone.co.uk/index2.html

QL Active Release Technique and body weight + 40kg Chin

Here we have Active Release Technique in action on Justin Maguire (127kg), during a training session.  The lift demonstrated is during a set of 10 reps with the load being body weight + 40kg.  The release techniques demonstrated are part of the ongoing management of Maguire's condition.  The versatility and effectiveness of ART have helped this athlete push the boundaries of his physical capability, with increases in both volume and load often being achieved following treatment.

The ART demonstrated is releasing the QL.  As is evident, even with an athlete of this size, with correct positioning and technique, the release may be easily and effectively used.

18 month old, kettle bell PB

Here we have my daughter Isis achieving a PB with the kettle bell dead lift.  The angle and casual clothing worn by this young athlete doesn't allow the viewer to appreciate the quality of the squat pattern  demonstrated here!

ART - Supraspinatus release - Sarah Lindsay

Client - Sarah Lindsay, 3 x GB Olympian and 9 x British Champion at Short Track Speed Skating.

Here we have ART in action, releasing the Supraspinatus.  Treatment of this muscle would generally follow a weakening or imbalance involving the Subscapularis and dynamic positioning of the Humeral Head.  Aetiology being varied with combination of global biomechanical factors and local stress, such pattern overload from isolated training protocols.  Assessment of these causal factors is obviously recommended but treatment of the Supraspinatus is often highly effective in restoring GHJ motion/function.  In addition to the technique illustrated below, the Supraspinatus may also be released inferior to the acromion.  The third picture indicates "backing up" of the contact hand.  As with other ART techniques care is taken to avoid compression and allow the treated structure to slide thus facilitating motion and freeing adhesions present.  The start position indicated could also be improved with increased external rotation.