Although you may not be familiar with the phrase, “sports-general” training, you have probably heard of functional training and functional strength. Functional strength means being strong in the movements and positions used in sports and life. To gain these abilities, the body must be trained the way it is used in sports. However, this does not mean you have to do sports-specific training, according to Michael Boyle, the strength and conditioning pioneer who coined the phrase “sports-general” training. Boyle explains that there is a misconception that functional training means doing movements that mimic your sport. In actuality, functional training focuses on the five basic human movements:

1. rotational and spiral
2. pulling
3. pushing
4. single-leg
5. bend-and-lift

These movements are consistent across sports and activities of daily living. Because these commonalities cross sports, similar functional training movements can be used by each athlete, from a hiker to an extreme skier.

Functional strength and movement come from a stable and aligned posture. When you are in a good position, your muscles can produce the most power, your joints have full range of motion, and you move with ease and grace. Unfortunately, athletes of all levels tend to lack function and alignment. You can be dysfunctionally strong and participate in sports at a high level, but this will be short-lived, as it was for me. The body cannot endure compensation and dysfunction in combination with the extreme demands of sports for long, as Pete Egoscue, founder of the Egoscue Method® for posture alignment points out:
Elite athletes can be dysfunctional. Talent, skill and ability in a specific sport by a specific individual can overcome and make up for many dysfunctions. In fact, many of the sports gifted athletes are incredibly dysfunctional. Their bodies have developed sports specific compensations. Unfortunately, physical performance does not tolerate dysfunction. That is why, over time, so many athletes lose their skills and/or end up playing in pain.

To enjoy an extended, pain-free athletic career, and perform the necessary movements of daily life, you must be functionally strong.

Ready to learn “sports-general” training, and take your functional strength to the next level?

Join Jessica Kisiel, certified posture coach, strength and conditioning specialist and former professional mountain biker for a workout: Posture Conditioning Circuit, Wednesdays, May 23-June 27 from 5:30-6:30 pm. Concepts from the Egoscue Method® and Postural Restoration Institute® will be used. Special attention will be given to the core, hips and pelvis, which create the foundation of aligned posture and work together as the power center for movement. Exercises will challenge participants to correctly activate muscles together in coordinated movements that are synchronized with proper breathing patterns. Class size will be limited to ensure individual instruction. Orientation to the circuit is required prior to participation. Free orientations for those seriously interested attending the workouts will be held the first two Wednesdays of May - 5/2 and 5/9 - from 5:30-6:30 pm at the Moab Recreation and Aquatics Center.

Jessica Kisiel, MS, is a local wellness professional offering posture classes and individual therapy.

One common cause is called thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) - an area to the side of your neck where nerves and blood vessels may become compressed between neck muscles, the collar bone, and the first rib. This can cause pain in your shoulders and neck and numbness all the way down to your fingers.

Common reasons why you may develop TOS are linked to repetitive job requirements involving prolonged restricted postures such as carrying heavy shoulder loads, pulling shoulders back and down working on an assembly line, or reaching above shoulder level for work or sports. Sometimes the cause cannot be determined but symptoms can be treated, or modifications can be discussed for activities that may contribute to your symptoms.

Only neurogenic (the most common) TOS will be discussed, meaning your likely cause is a nerve or bundle of nerves being compressed. The bundle of nerves known as the brachial plexus originates in your spinal cord and branches out into your shoulder, forearm, and hands. I won’t go into detail on presentation of symptoms since each person will very based on where the compression occurs. A licensed physical therapist can perform specific tests to determine the likely source and treat your individual symptoms to restore neural communication into the ‘numb’ area. Here is a list of commons neurogenic symptoms you may experience.

Signs and Symptoms of Neurological TOS include:
• Muscle wasting in your hand near the thumb
• Numbness or tingling in your arm or fingers
• Pain or aches in your neck, shoulder or hand
• Weakening grip

After a full examination, including special tests for your specific symptoms, we can begin skilled physical therapy treatment. In some cases, you will be referred back to your primary doctor for additional imaging to help confirm TOS or help guide further treatment. As a physical therapy provider, we can address your postural weaknesses, work station ergonomics, and provide nerve glide stretches to reduce symptoms. Let us help reduce compression of the nerve and improve shoulder girdle strength to avoid permanent damage to compressed structures. If you feel you may be suffering from thoracic outlet syndrome speak to your physician about symptoms or schedule a physical therapy exam. Questions can be emailed to info@moabphysicatherapy.com or call (435)210-1985 to schedule an appointment, we look forward to hearing from you. Follow us on Instagram @moabpt for videos and tips.

Anxiety is the work of a strong, healthy brain that’s a little overprotective. It comes from a part of the brain called the amygdala, which keeps us safe by getting us ready to fight for our lives or run for it. The amygdala is instinctive, so if it thinks there might be danger, it will act first and think later – and the unfamiliar, the unknown, humiliation, embarrassment, separation from important people, can all count as danger. When the amygdala is triggered, it initiates a surge of neurochemicals to make us stronger, faster, more powerful, and more physically able to deal with a threat. Sometimes, the amygdala can work a little too hard and hit the alarm button too often when it doesn’t need to.

Back when the threats we humans faced were mostly physical, the most anxious of us probably would have been the most likely to survive. An anxious brain would have made us more alive to any threats, which would give us the survival edge. Now, the dangers we face are less physical threats and more psychological ones. We face very real psychological threats such as failure, rejection, exclusion, humiliation, disconnection from the people we care about – and the list goes on. The brain still fires up in response to threat, exactly as it’s mean to, but when the threats are psychological stressors, the fight or flight response doesn’t serve us so well. When there is nothing to fight or flee, there’s nothing to burn the fight or flight neurochemicals that surge through us, so they build up and cause the symptoms of anxiety.

It can be difficult for someone to articulate exactly what’s happening for them. It will be clear that something isn’t quite right. With symptoms of anxiety such as racy heart, sick stomach, avoidance, tension, headache, tantrums, anger, etc. anxiety might be behind it.

At Integral Brain health we can permanently help those who have chronic anxiety and help them find a more peaceful life. Call now for your free consultation 435-459-0293

On May 2nd at 6 PM, Dr. Brandau, General Surgeon at Moab Regional Hospital, will educate on the topic of Skin Cancer awareness, prevention and warning signs specific to our region.
On May 9th at 6 PM, Dr. Richard Gilroy from Intermountain Medical Center’s Transplant Services department will discuss the importance of liver health.
All Education Dinners are free and open to the public, hosted at Moab Regional Hospital. To RSVP call (435) 719-5580 or email vista@mrhmoab.org.
Moab Regional Hospital is a 501 (c)(3) Critical Access Hospital and Level IV Trauma Center and leader in healthcare in southeastern Utah. Founded in 2011, Moab Regional Hospital prioritizes patient centered values of compassion, honesty and excellence. Their dedicated team puts the patient first, delivers quality cost-effective healthcare and promotes wellness to all they serve.