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News From Kathy
Gaining Flexibility In Uppr Back PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 22 July 2010 12:13
Gymnasts need flexible upper backs and shoulders. This is actually a complex issue. The muscles of the upper back and the muscles of the shoulder blades need to be strong to allow the region to gain flexibility.  The shoulders need full flexibility for the upper back to gain flexibility. The shoulders gain flexibility when the muscles of the shoulder blades become strong enough to support the actions of the shoulders. When a gymnast continues to perform drills and skills without good shoulder blade muscles support, their shoulders start to roll forward and tighten. When the shoulder blade muscles aren't used, the upper back rounds, the shoulders go more forward and power and flexibility is limited. Gymnasts begin to develop back or shoulder pain. Shoulder blade muscles need to be developed. Shoulder blade muscles need to be trained to work in coordination with shoulder muscles and lower abdominals. Then, the upper back will become flexible. Then and only then can extra flexibility exercises be added. Over stretching weak, elongated muscles is not a good thing!
 
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Ludington, MI 49431
231-843-2676

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Note From Kathy

Sadly, I treat numerous children with severe strain injuries that are typically seen in adults. I work with a 12-year-old girl, who has such intense back pain that she can’t sit longer than 10 minutes. She is missing school because sitting at a desk is just too painful. Children are competing year-round in a highly competitive climate.

Research is currently being done by experts to determine the factors behind the rising injury rates, but there are no easy answers. It does not take an expert to understand that children, just like adults, have a better chance at more successful, more injury-free years in recreational or competitive sports activities if they have the strength, flexibility, and endurance required for the activity before they start the activity. Would you try to run a marathon without training? Why do we expect our children to run on a soccer field, throw a ball, or workout in a gym for extended hours without training?

My goal is to provide parents, coaches, and young gymnasts with user-friendly programs to gain a level of fitness before competing.

Kathy's Biography

Physical therapists (PT) are medically trained professionals who specialize in the analysis of movement. We examine how and why our muscles and joints do or do not work together in everyday life and sports activities. Our role is to guide the gymnast towards owning a healthy body and to assist them in restoring an injured body.

Kathy Tooman, PT, is a graduate of the University of Michigan physical therapy program. Her diverse clinical experience includes teaching and treatment in traditional hospital and out-patient clinic settings, as well as administration and education in a physical therapist assistant program. Less traditionally, she has worked with clients in swimming pools, gyms, church basements, athletic fields, and even under bleachers.

Her clinical skills are enhanced by being the lifetime owner of a body in constant need of training, and as a mother of two very athletic, devastatingly handsome sons.