Medical/Injuries

Now with both parts!

Flexibility is one of CrossFit’s 10 fitness domains, but it’s often overlooked by athletes focused on sexier domains such as strength, power and endurance. In this video shot at CrossFit Santa Cruz, Kelly Starrett explains that a lack of mobility will hurt your performance just as much as poor cardio or a lack of strength.

Analyzing an athlete with hip and knee issues, Starrett shows exactly how poor flexibility limits what… Continue Reading

Kelly Starrett suggests more solutions to knee problems in Part 3 of a seminar held at CrossFit Santa Cruz on March 14, 2009. Starrett is the owner of San Francisco CrossFit and a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

According to Starrett, knee problems can sometimes be alleviated by creating slack in the system both “upstream and downstream.” By stretching hip flexors and calves and integrating foam rolling into your rehab, you can give a… Continue Reading

Our series on solving knee problems continues with Kelly Starrett telling participants at a one day seminar at CrossFit Santa Cruz on March 14, 2009 that he first time an athlete engages the hamstring when squatting is an ‘aha!’ moment and “lights go off for them.” Starrett is the owner of San Francisco CrossFit and a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

If the tibia goes forward in a squat, joint forces across the meniscus will… Continue Reading

“The squat magically cures knee pain if you squat correctly,” Kelly Starrett told participants at a one day seminar at CrossFit Santa Cruz on March 14, 2009. Starrett is the owner of San Francisco CrossFit and a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

Improper squat mechanics under load will lead to problems over time. Muted hips and knees bent forward are common faults. Starrett said one patient at his clinic was an elite, world… Continue Reading

Tissue healing has three phases, Kelly Starrett told participants at a one day seminar at CrossFit Santa Cruz on March 14, 2009. Starrett is the owner of San Francisco CrossFit and a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

The inflammatory phase generally lasts 0-36 hours. The body has mobilized the troops. Swelling is maximal. The “emergency guys” are migrating from other tissues to help. That response is good, but needs to be slowed… Continue Reading

Strength and conditioning can only normalize tissue permanently changed by injury. You can never undo what’s been done, Kelly Starrett told participants at a one day seminar at CrossFit Santa Cruz on March 14, 2009. Starrett is the owner of San Francisco CrossFit and a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

A bad ankle sprain can take four to six weeks to heal. CrossFitters may be supermen, but they can’t outrace the body’s tissue healing times or… Continue Reading

The last thing most athletes recovering from an acute injury should do is take a month off from CrossFitting, Kelly Starrett told participants at a one day seminar at CrossFit Santa Cruz on March 14, 2009. Starrett is the owner of San Francisco CrossFit and a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

In part 2 of our series on how to train through acute injuries, Starrett said conventional advice can sometimes be… Continue Reading

Continuing to CrossFit while you have an acute injury can actually promote healing, Kelly Starrett told participants at a one day seminar at CrossFit Santa Cruz on March 14, 2009. Starrett is the owner of San Francisco CrossFit and a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

“You had a surgery on Friday? Take a couple of days off. See you on Monday,” Starrett said. The key is modifying the program. Grace can be done with dumbbells. If a limb is injured… Continue Reading