Static Stretching

~ A static stretch creates awareness of tightness and sets a baseline for future comparison. It can function as a quick self appraisal of limitation, changes in limitation, or lack of limitation. It can also create awareness of appreciable asymmetries between functional units of the right and left side of the body. Dr. McGill supports static stretching in the presence of asymmetry.

~ A static stretch creates safety because a stretch should be felt in the belly or midsection of a muscle, not the tendon, and not over a joint. If this is felt, something more than a tight muscle is going on here. You probably have a joint problem or tendonitis. “No pain no gain” does not apply here. If a static stretch produces pain, over a joint or tendon, you have a problem that stretching alone will not fix. Do not proceed to exercise or training without getting this assessed.

~ A static stretch creates perspective with respect to movement. If the muscles that cross your ankles, knees, and hips are tight they will probably limit your squatting movement pattern. If the muscles that cross your ankles, knees, and hips are not tight and are considered normal and you cannot perform a squatting movement pattern you may have a stabilization problem. If your stabilizers do not support your skeletal system as you lower into the squat you must use your movers as a secondary support system. This will distort joint alignment and create poor postural control within the movement pattern. Consider this next time you pick exercises that do not utilize postural control (leg press, bench press etc…)

~ A static stretch creates education if you take the time to discuss the potential causes of muscle tightness during the stretching session. Ask ‘where does tightness come from’ and see what responses you get. Here are some hints. One or all may fit any situation.

~ Movement habits drive tightness – focus on better exercise and athletic techniques.

~ Postural habits drive tightness – look at the positions of the body during sitting, sleeping, driving, and standing. Some habitual positions can create muscle shortness so consider the four positions above.

~ Emotional stress can drive tightness – This is often overlooked and avoided in discussions about muscle tightness, but it is a big part of excess muscle tension

~ Trigger points – are extra electrical activity in a small part of a muscle that can create muscle tightness and pain. They can result from an old muscle injury to chronic muscle tension. They respond best to manual pressure and stick work followed by stretching and correct exercise habits.

By: Gray Cook

Michelle Obama gets a Republican boost on obesity

WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Two prominent Republicans came to the defense of First Lady Michelle Obama, breaking ranks with some of their party's top stars who have taken jabs at her campaign against obesity.

Mike Huckabee, a formerly overweight talk show host who is a possible presidential contender, took issue with conservative critics who say the first lady is unduly involving the government in personal and family decision-making.

The critics include Sarah Palin, Minnesota lawmaker and Tea Party champion Michele Bachmann, and radio commentator Rush Limbaugh.

"I didn't say they're all wrong," Huckabee said on Fox News. "I'm just simply saying that what Michelle Obama is proposing is not that the government tells you that you can't eat dessert."
"What Michelle Obama has proposed is that we recognize that we have a serious obesity crisis, which we do," said Huckabee, who calls himself a "recovering foodaholic" who once weighed 135k (300 lbs).

The former Arkansas governor pointed out that 75 percent of military age youths in the United States do not qualify for military service "because they're either overweight or obese and can't meet the minimum army standards."

"That's serious," he said. "This is no longer just a health issue, an economic issue. It is becoming an issue of national security."

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who has called himself portly, also distanced himself from conservatives critical of the first lady's efforts to encourage young Americans to stay fit and eat healthy foods.

"I think it's a really good goal to encourage kids to eat better," Christie stressed.

"I've struggled with my weight for 30 years. And it's a struggle. And if a kid can avoid that in his adult years or her adult years, more power to them. And I think the first lady is speaking out well," he added.

While "I don't want the government deciding what you can and what you can't eat. ... I think Mrs. Obama being out there encouraging people in a positive way to eat well and to exercise and to be healthy, I don't have a problem with that," Christie added.

Childhood obesity in the United States has tripled in 30 years.

Today, one in three US children are overweight or obese, meaning they are more likely than their normal-weight peers to grow up to be obese adults at higher risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and fatty liver disease.

AFP - Monday, February 28

Role of sports in promoting a spirit of community and harmony

By Soo Kim

Published Dec 25, 2010

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II stressed the role of sports in promoting a spirit of community and harmony in her annual televised Christmas speech to the British public on December 25.

Beginning with a reference to the historical new translation of the Bible authorized by King James VI of Scotland in 1604, the Queen described this landmark translating process as a "major cooperative endeavor that required the efforts of dozens of the days leading scholars."

Drawing a parallel to how sports can produce a similar sense of cooperation she said, "The whole enterprise was guided by the interest of reaching an agreement for the wider benefit of the Christian Church and to bring harmony to the kingdoms of England and Scotland.

The Queen highlighted the different benefits of sports activities demonstrated especially this past year through various sporting and sport-related events. She spoke of how sports brings people together from different backgrounds and can provide other new perspectives on life.She urged the continued importance of building harmony as it was four hundred years ago for the Christian Church and that "one of the most powerful ways of doing this is through sport and games."

These words were accompanied by images of Prince William playing sports with children at a village in Lesotho earlier this year during his visit to Africa with Prince Harry.

She noted the widely applicable benefit of social skills learned from working as a team. "This sort of positive team spirit can benefit communities, companies and enterprises of all kinds," she said.

The Queen praised the rehabilitative effects of sports as seen in the Paralympic Games this year and among injured members of the armed forces, noting how it can speed recovery, build camaraderie as well as a renewed purpose and joy in life.

She also mentioned the most recent Commonwealth Games as a shining example of the great sense of pride and honor gained from sports in representing your home country, calling it "a sense of belonging to a wider family."

Such spirits were seen at this year's Commonwealth Games, also known as the 'Friendly Games' according to the Queen, especially among competitors from smaller nations who tend to receive the loudest cheers from the crowds, she noted.

Lastly, the Queen referred back to King James and how he may not have known the big role sports could play in the future for building community.

"But from the Scriptures of the Bible which bears his name, we know nothing is more satisfying than the feeling of belonging to a group who are dedicated to helping each other," she said.