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When people learn that I help injured athletes get back in the game they often ask, “What is the best type of exercise?” I typically answer this question with another question. “What do you like to do?”

Do you feel like you have been in pain far too long? Are you tired of being restricted from performing the activities that you love to do? Do you wonder if there is more that you can be doing to get back to where you want to be? Many times, the answer to the final question is yes. Returning to the activities that you love and eliminating pain is never a simple answer.

Most people understand that exercise is a healthy activity to consistently engage in. Incorporating intense exercise days into your routine adds even more benefit as long as proper recovery is facilitated between these workouts. However, in many situations this is not the case leading to poor performance and increased risk of injury.

As the summer begins so does the incidence of plantar fascia pain. Warmer weather often encourages people to begin running outside or increase their running volume. This is a great thing as spending more time outside, away from desks, computers and smart phones is extremely beneficial (see previous blog posts for more info on this!). However, the body is often ill-prepared for running when first jumping back into things.

Do you wake up in the morning feeling stiff? Do you feel that you need to foam roll and stretch prior to all workouts to “loosen up”? Perhaps you are unable to squat, deadlift, perform a pullup or lift something overhead without feeling like you are straining and compensating to do so. Many clinicians will refer to an inefficient or restricted way of moving as a movement dysfunction. However, is there a wrong way to move?