This past month I travelled to Korea with my wife (also a Chiropractor), Dr. Tracy Ho while she attend the Functional Range Conditioning (FRC) course. FRC was developed through Functional Anatomy Seminars and Dr. Andreo Spina. I have been fortunate to be learning with Dr. Spina since 2010 and have been a certified FRC mobility specialist since 2013.
I had a chance to speak with the lead instructors, Dewey Neilsen and Michael Ranfone. It was great to see how FRC can be organised into a group class, called KINSTRETCH. I hope to take Kinstretch as a way to increase group performance in the near future. I will be travelling to learn more from Michael at the Functional Range Assessment for advanced practitioners at the Onnit Academy in May.
I was privileged to meet and observe some of the members of Xion.,and the Athletic Republic Network team in Seoul. I was able to observe how athletes go through pre season testing and their protocol on increasing speed, agility and strength. Daum Jung, a performance and strength and conditioning specialist, brought me through what its like to interpret data from pre season testing and using it to develop a performance program. I also got to speak with some athletes their injury histories. For more information on Xion Korea, click here. For a quick tour of Xion Korea click here.
Track Athlete and IDaum and I
I was also fortunate to train some Brazilian Jiu Jitsu while in Korea. Professor Kris Kim, a blackbelt under Tony Passos and Atos BJJ USA, showed us some great technique. The Students at Beomgye New Wave BJJ were gracious enough to let me borrow a gi and attend a class and roll. I was also invited to attend the Yongsan BJJ open mat located on the USA Army base in Itaewon, Seoul. Thanks for the hospitality!
New UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has Chiropractor as part of his team. See the video below as he fought and won the title at UFC 201. Congrats Champ!
MMA, or mixed martial arts, is a combat sport like no other. This is why it is important for the athletes to take care of their body and to prevent injuries. Chiropractors always involved in high level athletics and sport where there is high demand on the body. Watch professional fighter, Page “12 Gauge”Vanzant , have her MMA injury managed by her Chiropractor. Paige will be fighting “Thug” Rose Namajunas this month in the UFC.
MMA fighters, Grapplers, Brazillian Jiu Jitsu, Judo and Muay Thai practitioners of all levels in Hong Kong, currently seek out care from a Chiropractor to help improve themselves in and outside of training.
Treatment from a Chiropractor can callow for better overall physical functioning, in and outside of training. Whether you are a professional fighter, doctor or business man, Chiropractors can help to determine what course of therapy is best for your injury or how to maximize your body’s own functioning. MMA fighters, Grapplers, Brazillian Jiu Jitsu, Judo and Muay Thai practitioners of all levels in Hong Kong, currently seek out care from a Chiropractor.
Multiple world boxing champion and UFC Women’s title challenger Holly Holm will fight the #1 Female Fighter in the World Ronda Rousey with the help of Chiropractic.
Chiropractic can benefit athletes by helping their muscles, joints and nervous system function at its best. Chiropractors help athletes decrease pain and improve recovery time from the strains of ongoing training.
Chiropractors can assess your physical health and determine the best way to optimize your body through hands on therapy, exercise and physical therapy modalities. Chiropractors utilize a natural approach to your health and do not prescribe medications or perform surgery. A chiropractor will utilize safe, simple and effective techniques that the athlete is comfortable with. Lastly, a chiropractor will work with you and your team of coaches to help integrate their care into your training as to not interfere. Learn more about Chiropractors and Athletic Performance here.
Are you and athlete training for competition?
Are you looking to get an edge on your competition? Does your body or mind feel fatigued after training or activity?
Ask your doctor or health professional to see a Chiropractor or ask me a question directly regarding Chiropractic Care and you
I was both a volunteer and injury consultant this past weekend for the mini Copa de Hong Kong Jiu Jitsu Tournament. I had a couple athletes ask, “what is the most common condition I see from combat athletes?”. In the past, I saw many lower back pain patients but most frequently it has been all neck injuries. I believe this is because athletes now train their core, abdominal and back strength much more frequently. As well, strength and conditioning for the lower back is a staple in many general body programs. Neck strength, conditioning and mobility is generally forgotten and currently this leads me to see more neck pain patients.
“Neck strength, conditioning and mobility is generally forgotten and currently this leads me to see more neck pain patients.”
Neck pain from both combat (jiu-jitsu, boxing, wrestling, muay thai, mma, football, basketball) and non-combat sports (basketball, football, tennis, golf, badminton) are quite common. Neck pain from combat sports can be particularly difficult to treat. This is due to the fact that sports typically involve techniques that strain the neck during training. Common injuries tend to occur in hyperflexion, rotation, traction and compression. The most common form of neck pain I see is from flexion based injuries from getting your neck snapped down, being pulled in a thai plum, being stacked while playing guard or being choked and head locked.
Neck pain is usually felt in the highest portion of the spine, the cervical spine area. The cervical spine area, has 7 vetebrae. When the area becomes moved beyond the normal functional range of motion both passive (bone, disc, ligament, capsule) and active tissues (muscle, joint, tendon) can become injured. The neck and upper back area has both superficial to deep areas of soft tissue that covers vertebrae (see below). Neck injuries may also cause pain into the mid back or shoulders and many times is mistaken for problems in those areas.
I have neck pain from a jiu-jitsu, wrestling, boxing and/or muay thai, what can I do?
Having your neck pain evaluated by a Chiropractor will help determine the extent of the injury and what your prognosis (the forcast of your condition) will be. If you have already recovered from a previous neck pain or injury, prevention of the next one should be what you are thinking about. Having your neck and body assesed is the best way to know how your body is moving and how painful or dysfunctional issues have affected the function of your joints.
In my clinic, if a person reports pain then I perform an SFMA, neurological, orthopaedic and palpatory assessments. Your Chiropractor should locate the dysfunctional issues and tissues (tissue Extensibility, Joint mobility, chemical pain, motor control issues, or vestibular issues). A skilled practitioner should be able to palpate using a layering technique like Functional Palpation before performing any Functional Release or Active Release techniques. Many Chiropractors possess the skill to palpate specific structures and are experts to do so. The type of treatment administered will be based on what will provide the quickest neck pain relief and return to function.
I have recovered from a neck pain and injury, what is a safe and effective exercise I can peform to help strengthen my neck?
Many athletes will typically stretch to get rid of pain and improve passive range of motion. Is that enough to prevent injury? Just stretching in order to allow your body to get into a range of motion is not enough.Aquiring strength and control in ALL RANGES (short and long ranges of motion) will help prevent injuries. This means having active ability in these ranges of motion.
Below is a video from my colleague and mentor, Dr. Andreo Spina. Featured on Jits TV, our functional range conditioning exercise will help prevent neck pain injury. This exercise is also beneficial for those who just want general conditioning for there neck.
There are other great conditioning and neck strengthening execises that a qualified personal trainer or strength and conditioning coach can give you to help prevent neck pain. Just be sure you have all the prerequesites for doing the exercises by seeing you Chiropractor. They can determine if your neck is prepared for more difficult movements.
Do you practice brazillian jiu jitsu (BJJ), muay thai, boxing, wrestling, or judo and get neck pain? See a Chiropractor for an evaluation and improve your joint health and mobility.
