When one of my patients recently asked, “What stretches should I be doing?” my answer surprised them: none. While stretching often feels like the go-to solution for muscle tightness, the real issue may not be a lack of flexibility. Instead, the body’s tightness is often a protective response, signaling something deeper that needs attention.
One of the most fascinating lessons I ever learned came from a course taught by a Louisiana native. He opened by describing how to wrestle an alligator—not exactly what I expected in a physical therapy context. But as he unpacked the metaphor, it turned out to be a great analogy for human movement and performance.
Your core—your trunk—is so much more than just a six-pack waiting to be revealed. Its primary function is to manage internal pressure and support your body against gravity. Think of it as your body’s central stability system.
If you’re a distance runner training for a 5K, 10K, half marathon, or even a full marathon, the idea of sprinting might seem a bit strange. After all, why would you focus on short bursts of speed when your goal is to cover long distances? Surprisingly, incorporating sprints into your training can significantly boost both performance and injury prevention.
Do You Feel Stiff After Sitting All Day?
If you’re like many of our physical therapy patients, you spend hours sitting at a desk for work or school. Whether you’re locked into meetings, answering emails, or studying for exams, long periods of sitting can leave your body stiff, sore, and uncomfortable. Sound familiar? You’re not alone!
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“My Doctor Said I’m Cleared to Play!”
My patient was thrilled. After months of physical therapy, recovering from knee surgery, she finally received the green light to return to playing soccer.
Unfortunately, I had to bring her back to reality.
