I started with a new client today. He is a 15 year old wrestler and cross country runner.The range of motion in his ankle was pretty bad. He couldn't squat, walk or run properly because his shin did not want to move anteriorly very far. Due to some poor mobility training and several ankle sprains, his calf and shin muscles were not very functional.
Long story short, just by doing some simple soft tissue techiques on his tibialis anterior his range of motion improved tremendously. So what did I learn?
I learned that it is great to work next to a physical therapist and ART-specialist who can show you how to do simple things that can help your client a lot. When you do not need those skills for a while, you forget that they exist.
It is great to start with new clients, assess them and design a program together with someone who can help you with your weaker area. By training the "old" clients a lot, you do not remember those important things that you often need to start a new client with.
So, after 5 minutes of soft tissue work on the tibialis anterior, movement improved and single leg multidirectional reaches were so much better.
I think a lot of runners could use true functional mobility in their ankle complex and really be able to get that spring in the stride that everybody wants. Not to speak of injury prevention, of course.
Thank you Evan Chait at EAPI (Elite Athletic Performance Institute) for expanding my tool box and giving me great advice!
Tommi Paavola
PS: "A teacher will appear when the student is ready."
