• 30SEP, 2019
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    30 DAYS OF LOW BACK PAIN: DAYS 1-10

    30 DAYS OF LOW BACK PAIN: DAYS 1-10

    I’m willing to bet that if you’re reading this blog post ⁠— you have a bad back. I’m also willing to bet, given your low back scenario, and given this blog is dedicated towards strength & conditioning, you’re interested in: Keeping your low back healthy. Making your low back resilient to injury. Building a bulletproof

  • 09SEP, 2019
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    Things to Read to Help Slay Your Day: 09/10/2019

    Things to Read to Help Slay Your Day: 09/10/2019

    Hope you had an awesome week! Here is a new list of reading material I was able to go through in recent weeks and found very helpful. Enjoy! Personal Trainer Salary Survey (2019) Who Earns the Most?: Wondering how much the average personal trainer makes? This is a cool survey that the PTDC performed on

  • 31AUG, 2019
    36 Comments
    5 Tips for Writing an Exercise Program for a Client with Low Back Pain

    5 Tips for Writing an Exercise Program for a Client with Low Back Pain

    Writing an exercise program for a client with low back pain is a challenge. People come to me with a history of discogenic problems, retrolisthesis, facet degeneration, endplate fractures, etc. Each client is unique. And requries a different approach. The discogenic person tends to have a difficult time with lumbar flexion, whereas the person with

  • 22AUG, 2019
    1 Comment
    4 Tips for a Better Barbell Front Squat

    4 Tips for a Better Barbell Front Squat

    The barbell front squat is an exercise I like to use as a progression to goblet squats. It’s an exercise you can load up, while not having to worry about grip strength demands. And it tends to be shoulder (external rotation restrictions) and spine friendly.  To perform a barbell front squat, there a few requirements

  • 27JUL, 2019
    1 Comment
    Exercise 101: Suitcase Deadlift

    Exercise 101: Suitcase Deadlift

    The suitcase deadlift is an awesome progression from a traditional deadlift that provides a lateral core stability challenge. By placing the load in one hand and performing a hip-hinge, we are training the body to resist lateral flexion. I first saw this exercise from Mike Robertson and have been including it in clients program from

  • 21MAY, 2019
    1 Comment
    Random Thoughts on Overcoming Low Back Pain – Part 3

    Random Thoughts on Overcoming Low Back Pain – Part 3

    The other day I had a client say to me that their low back felt off after a set of trap bar deadlifts. After hearing this, and STRICTLY observing their form on their next set, their form was fine. But. The problem I noticed was that they weren’t properly bracing. As a result, the core