spine

Andrea Simulus knows how to bring serious stimulus to her abs, without risking her spine health in the process. The super-fit mom of four has an enviable six pack, and is all about sharing the wealth, as she demonstrated in a recent social media post. So, thankfully, here’s a workout that will...

We all know that the spine is the part of the body that basically needs the most attention to avoid back and spinal injury, and it usually hubs the most common areas of safety concern and general TLC. There’s no question that pulling or pushing weight with horrible posture will be a first class...

Core Training That Actually Works Most lifters backburner their core training. They may toss in a few basic ab exercises, but the effect is minimal, not counting some muscle burn and low-back discomfort. But if you want to build a strong, stable core, you have to train it purposefully with...

As part of your posterior chain, the erectors can get thicker and stronger through isometric contractions in exercises that are hip dominant. But to make them as strong as possible they also need additional work. WHAT TO DO Ideally you'd perform back raises on equipment that supports the abs so...

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW... Despite what many coaches say, you don't get much core work from squats and deadlifts. The better you get at stabilizing the spine, the better you'll be at moving your limbs faster and more forcefully. Any athlete that needs strength or speed will benefit from...

The safest way to deadlift is with a neutral spine, right? Ask anyone with an ounce of sense who's spent time in the gym and they'll tell you that the incidence of lifters who injure themselves through rounded-back deadlifting grossly outnumber that of lifters who injure themselves with...

Today we’re going to continue our series on low back pain during the squat by applying a novel concept to help us understand WHY back pain occurs. Physical Therapist Gray Cook (author of the book Movement and creator of the FMS screen) along with strength coach Mike Boyle coined the...

How to Fix Lower Back Pain First and foremost, your lower back pain could be caused by any number of issues including – but not limited to – the issues you mentioned. If I had to guess, though, I’d assume your back pain stems from a combination of: Insufficient hip mobility Weak posterior...

Bending down to pick up a barbell in front of the body places great demands on your ankles, hips, and spine to get into the right position that's conducive to spinal integrity. I rarely have clients deadlift with a straight bar. There are plenty of safer alternatives for non-powerlifters that...

SQUATS AND SHOULDER PAIN The squat is a staple. It's foundational to many other lifts. If you've experienced any increased shoulder pain from doing it, you're already be aware that squatting and shoulder health are related in some way. How exactly are they connected? And how can we fix what's...

Dumbbell rowing is essential. But most lifters don't spend a whole lot of time doing it, either because they're making some common mistakes and not getting results or because they're not aware of the benefits. So let's get into those. MISTAKES TO AVOID DURING DUMBBELL ROWS 1. TWISTING The goal...

Training with a sore or injured back is tricky. If you were to avoid working it altogether, your workout would likely be comprised of vacuums, dead bugs, and pulldowns. But it doesn't have to be that way. There are plenty of modifications you can make to existing exercises that'll keep back...

When the shoulder starts to hurt, one of the most common culprits is a stiff and excessively rounded thoracic (upper-mid) spine position. The thoracic spine also commonly lacks rotational capabilities in people with shoulder pain. When the thoracic spine fails to extend and rotate properly, the...

Sooner or later, you're going to tweak your back, and there's nothing you'll ever experience, perhaps shy of limb dismemberment, that'll put a stop to your training as cruelly or effectively. Of course, if you've already had some back problems, you know what we're talking about. Either way, we...

Many lifters need to work on building core strength the right way. They think all those fancy exercises on social media work wonders until they try them. Plus, some sit all working day with a rounded back and then put themselves through more flexion by crunching like a madman. But do you know...

There’s no debate: deadlifts have a seat at the grown-up table. They are one of the best bang for your buck exercises. Compound full body movements that require total body tension and strength form the basis of any high-performance training program. I have a love/hate relationship with...

The thoracic spine, or upper back, is an often overlooked area of the body. Many athletes who struggle with overhead lifts have trouble because their upper back is stiff. For individuals with neck and back pain, improving the thoracic spine can also be a great way to help improve symptoms. If...

There’s no debate: deadlifts have a seat at the grown-up table. They are one of the best bang for your buck exercises. Compound full body movements that require total body tension and strength form the basis of any high-performance training program. I have a love/hate relationship with...

There’s no debate: deadlifts have a seat at the grown-up table. They are one of the best bang for your buck exercises. Compound full body movements that require total body tension and strength form the basis of any high-performance training program. I have a love/hate relationship with...

Eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman is a legendary figure in the bodybuilding community, but unfortunately he’s been suffering from a variety of ailments over the last decade. We wrote about his recovery from back surgery in September of last year, which was his tenth operation overall, and...