Scraping for Hip Flexor Issues

Ariana Purificati FuneUncategorizedLeave a Comment

Hip flexor pain is a common issue experienced by runners and athletes engaged in activities with repetitive and rapid hip flexion such as kicking. This can lead to irritation, stiffness, and pain in the hip flexors. Lower cross syndrome is also associated with hip flexor tightness and can manifest into other issues. Muscle imbalances in the groups around the pelvis … Read More

4 Things to Know About Activation Exercises

Ariana Purificati FuneUncategorizedLeave a Comment

What are activation exercises? Activation exercises are small, isolated exercises that target specific muscles or small groups of muscles. These often focus on one particular movement at a joint such as hip flexion, or internal, or external rotation. This type of exercise brings in blood flow to “wake up” and warm up small muscles that may not be highlighted during … Read More

Scraping for Low Back Pain

Ariana Purificati FuneUncategorizedLeave a Comment

Low back pain is one of the most common reasons for visits to a health professional. A systematic review has shown that up to 60-80% of people experience low back pain in their lifetime1.  Conservative therapy such as stretching and strengthening is effective for treating low back pain, but muscle scraping may be the missing piece that elevates and accelerates … Read More

When should I use cold therapy?

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For some, it’s almost instinctual to use ice when they get injured or whenever they are in pain. In the past, icing or cold therapy has been used to reduce pain and inflammation in muscles and joints. However, new research has suggested that we reconsider the traditional uses of cold therapy.  So when should we actually use cold therapy? The … Read More

Can Plantar Fasciitis Cause Calf Pain?

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Both calf pain and plantar fasciitis are common injuries for runners and those participating in constant weight-bearing and/or high-impact activities. The two are highly related, but is one a cause of the other? Causes of Plantar Fasciitis The plantar fascia is a thick connective tissue running along the sole of your foot, providing arch support and shock absorption. Plantar fasciitis … Read More

Does walking barefoot help plantar fasciitis?

Ariana Purificati FuneUncategorizedLeave a Comment

The plantar fascia is a thick connective tissue structure that supports the foot arches and helps absorb shock upon impact. Repetitive impact and overuse of this structure lead to degeneration and pain known as plantar fasciitis.  There has been speculation that walking barefoot can help with symptoms of plantar fasciitis, but is this true? We have read through the research … Read More

Scraping for IT Band Syndrome

Ariana Purificati FunePerformance, Recovery, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

Runners, or any athletes that are constantly on their feet, may be prone to iliotibial (IT) band syndrome. The pain on the outside of your knees can be debilitating and keep you from being active.  Fortunately, Sidekick tools can be used to attack almost all of the causes of IT band syndrome.  This article will guide you through scraping the … Read More

Sidekick vs Graston: 3 Critical Differences

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It’s not uncommon to compare “Sidekick”, “Graston” and “muscle scraping” – or even think of them as one. We get it, there are many similarities! Sidekick and Graston are both Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) techniques used to break up the tension and promote healing in soft tissue.  But how do they differ from one another? We’re here to … Read More