Correcting motion and structure?

[adam]

Hello All.

I have been noticing there is a couple glitches in my structure and the range of motion that I have been exploring and rediscovering through the Warrior Wellness program and the other resources I have used. I am amazed at the structural changes that have occurred in body and the gains in awareness I have experienced over the last 3 months.

First, I was wondering how to further smooth out troubled areas and the best method to increase range of motion. How should I proceed through the grinding sounds and the contractions and tightness that I experience when practicing the movements in WW, is slowness the key here?

Secondly, It appears as though the left arch of my foot is flat, while the right has a much stronger arch. I have also noticed that there has been a knot in my left calf for quite some time, along with a knot in the arch on the bottom of my left foot. I am guessing this is from a past injury/trauma or maybe how I have walking or standing. I have been practicing the ankle rolls from WW and using the foot accordion drill from Leg-Fencing, along with massaging and stretching the troubled of my foot and calf.

I was wondering if there is anything else I can do correct this condition, and if possible, preferably with an exercise.

thanks.

Adam Oostema
[/quote]

[Scott Sonnon]

Adam,

Continue to sophisticate your Warrior Wellness program - read Lumbarred from Pain-Free Mobility (http://www.circularstrengthmag.com/23/sonnon.html) for ideas, or acquire the Freedom By Degree (http://www.rmax.tv/freedom.html) video course for instructions.

Secondly, It appears as though the left arch of my foot is flat, while the right has a much stronger arch. I have also noticed that there has been a knot in my left calf for quite some time, along with a knot in the arch on the bottom of my left foot. I am guessing this is from a past injury/trauma or maybe how I have walking or standing. Your intuition if accurately discerned may be telling you everything you need to know. When you first noticed these events, what trauma preceded it? If you suspect your gait and posture have been enabling and reinforcing the condition, you're probably correct. Any trauma to the right shoulder, arm or ribs in the past?

[adam]

The first awareness of a knot in my calf occurred following a long distance run where I pushed myself too hard right from the start, and continued to do so for about 5 miles, tense with aggression. This was my first week running after living a sedentary life style and smoking for several years. At the time this seemed to shock my system and resulted in blowing out both my calves for the following week. Prior to this it seems like there was a disruption in my gait and posture, though the specifics I could not isolate until now.

Last night I went for a walk with the intension of "unlearning" the dysfunctional mechanics in my movement. I discovered there is a network of constriction pillared throughout the left side of my body that I cannot recall having been aware of until now. The chain of command appears to travel from the upper-middle back down to the ankle, and in the middle of this cord or channel it feels as though the motion of my left hip is restricted within a two dimensional plane, at least that is what I have noticed noticed when walking.

I cannot recall a specific physical injury or trauma as the cause for this condition, but regardless, my posture, gait, and movement are improving daily, and my awareness continues to expand and grow. Thank you for the response and direction in your last post. I will continue to sophisticate the movements of warrior wellness, and persist to relinquish this disunion. Please don't hesitate to pass along any resources or insights of which I might not be aware.

Adam Oostema

[Ski]

Adam,

Ski here (Jeff Pelkowski), I had a severe amount of trauma in 1995 to my head, left shoulder, three left ribs, Lumbar vertebra 4-5-6 (L4/5/6), left knee and right fibia. Surgery on the knee and fibia restricted my movement for months but I was able to get back in shape. Of course that was before discovering ROSS and Biomechanical Exercises (BE). My lower lumbar was always an issue and restricted my abilities greatly. Once I started practicing the BE's I was astounded at almost immediate change in my posture and walking gate. In 2001, before I had surgery on the herniated disks between L3/4/5, Every 2 or 3 months I would have a nerve become inflamed and end up on my back for a couple of days. Strangely enough, I found that the only way for me to move during that time was in Position 1 (as seen on GPTB). My doctor was very surprised. After surgery, physical therapy was ordered and the therapists were also amazed at the quick recovery. They asked what exercises they prescribed had aided the most. My reply: None. I showed them some of the BE's I was doing on my own and the jaws dropped. A big thanks to Coach Sonnon for showing us these things and the Pittsburgh ROSS Study Group for teaching me. It sure helped me at a time when I was sure nothing ever would.

I have, unfortunately, been out of the Tribe for a time, and am starting over from scratch. My posture has been poor, weight a little harder to lose and I am determined to re-learn what I lost growing up. I too have had some calf "knots", but have found much better relief from ballistic stretching than static. I have also found that not running on the balls of my feet when jogging also keeps the knots from starting. I was very interested in the "Effortless Running" (Russian title escapes me right now). Due to my back, I believe learning this would greatly reduce the after jog soreness in my back from the impact and jarring.

I received my order of "Freedom From Fear Reactivity" and "Circular Strength Training" Tuesday. I am looking forward to the arrival of the Clubbells. I've always been a big fan of weight training but the methods I'm reading about for CST are astounding! I will be posting my training, progress and discoveries as they occur.

Please forgive my ranting and long winded-ness.

All the best to you and yours,
--ski

[Scott Sonnon]

Ski,
That's a good point about gait assessment.

Adam, if you're running on the balls of your feet (a condition with which I'm familiar since most wrestlers do this constantly), then change to running midfoot (using knee and hip flexion to absorb impact), you may see your condition resolve.

[Glenn Sunshine]

Scott,

My feet have been flat since I was a child--as far back as I can remember. Is there anything that can be done to correct that?

Yours,
Glenn

[Scott Sonnon]

Glenn,

Some flat footed folk have had success in creating a muscular substitute for an arch (whether it's a "true" arch or not remains the speculation of podiatrists) using the Foot Roll, the Foot Curl, various other Body-Flow ground movements, and the Zdorovye Endurance Gait.

[Glenn Sunshine]

Thanks, Scott. I'll try them out.

Yours,
Glenn

[adam]

Thanks for the feedback, everything is smoothing itself out and will soon be corrected. As I continue to deepen my practice, I have come to realize that what I really need to cultivate is a little patience.

Adam Oostema