Over the past 15 years we have provided great rehabilitation programs and results for people find solutions to injury and chronic pain by learning how to move better and improve strength and stability. More recently we have attracted people with complex cases of not so much pain, but disability and disease seeking to improve their ability to move in life using exercise. From MS, to spinal cord injury, to cerebral paulsy and stroke, we have multiple different cases we see on a weekly basis all being taught how to improve movement skills and motor programs being driven by the brain and the nervous system (see testimonials for case studies). In this article we are going to look specifically at Multiple sclerosis. Even though this disease has evolved with treatment plans, medication and assistance, there still is a lack of education about the value of exercise and in particular the role of strength training for managing this disease. This article we will share with you some of the methods and principles we use effectively in our program each day. 

The importance of maintaining our flexibility or mobility of joints in order to move well is very important but just how is it best to do that. We have all been convinced that spending time holding static stretches is the best way and we should always do this before exercise to prevent any injuries. If there is one thing I have learned in 15 years of working in rehabilitation with people suffering severe injuries to elite athletes looking for sporting performance that there is no absolutes, there is no black and white, and only a lot of grey area. And when it comes to stretching not only are many of the age old beliefs incorrect, but the exact opposite is what is required! But not always! This is definitely one of the most confusing topics to discuss, as many times I will contradict myself and say do not do this, and the very next minute I tell that is exactly what you should do! The reason for this contradiction is we are all very unique with what out body needs, we just have to be smart and listen to the signals our body is giving us. One thing is for certain we all need to devote some time to restoring optimal flexibility. How we might do this can vary a lot, which is what I will show you in this article.

Anyone playing sports at a high level will appreciate the value a strength and conditioning program can provide and understand that training for the sport alone will not yield great results. Devoting too much time to strength and conditioning, at the expense of practicing skills in the sport itself is also a recipe for disaster, and there has been many potential athletes ruin their career from being too good in the gym. There must be a balance between all these variables, as there is only so much time that can be given to training, and more is not better. There is a fine line between over training that is counterproductive and exposes the athlete to injury or illness. Any strength program given to an athlete is to complement the bulk of their training which is built around the skills of the sport. This means that there is only a very small window of opportunity to give the athlete the type of training that will greatly enhance their athletic potential. And for almost any athlete in ball sports, the need to become explosively fast and also remain injury free would be at the top of the list of what they want their strength program to provide. In this article, we will show you that the best exercises and methods we use in our Sports Program for doing this are, and why many athletes may not be getting the most out of their training program.