Foundation Training
 

I continue to be amazed by this program:

www.Foundationtraining.com

Here's an interview with Dr. Goodman explaining the concepts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsbz8qxPGNs

The big message here is that we are not moving as nature intended us to. Computers, sitting at desks, droopy shoulders, etc. Everything we do these days has us hunched over. Foundation training attempts to reverse this.

It's worth a look. And really, if you do it 5 minutes a day you'll see improvements.

I've been doing it now for about six weeks and I'm amazed. TOS symptoms gone. Stronger. And probably most important, it constantly makes me think about posture.

Like I said, it's worth a few minutes.

KY

Hello, I was wondering how you started this program. Did you purchase the DVD and start this on your own. How much time per day do you do thus and do you do it everyday? I just watched the video interview that you posted and it seems like it targets people with back pain. Thanks

I first pulled up the videos on the website. You can see enough there to get started. Then moved to the 12 minute "workout" you can find on youtube. After I did that, I purchased the book and the DVD to get the whole enchilada.

It's really more than for just low back pain. It teaches you how to move as we are supposed to move from toes to head. To me, TOS is primarily a dysfunction in movement due to muscle imbalance. We were not intended to sit all the time with our shoulders drooped forward. All of the movements attempt to reverse this.

There's also a lot of specific movements that many have mentioned on these forums that are integrated into these movements. For example:

* Shoulders back -- essential part of the "founder" stance.
* Stretch chest -- ditto.
* Chin tucks -- pretty much part of every movement

I go to the gym 4 days per week. When I go, I "sprinkle" in foundation training movements. Probably a total of 10 minutes per workout. Then usually on Saturdays, I do a full 50 minute workout. Dr. Eric Goodman says as little as 10 minutes a day will be beneficial.

KY

Thank you so much for the information. I found some of the videos on you tube and I'm going to give it a try. I also believe that tos is about dysfunctional movement. I'm curious about your history as far as surge rye. Have you had any and what type and were they successful? Thanks

I have not had surgery.

I have cervical ribs and have been to Dr. Donahue at Mass General in Boston several times. Two different major episodes, once on the right side and once on the left. Dr. Donahue has told me that he is surprised I haven't had surgery because "it's very tight in there."

Botox worked the first time for the right side, but did not work this last time for the left side. For the left side episode, which started in late December of 2013, I'm 100% sure that my own deep tissue massage and this foundation training has gotten me out of trouble.

The key question I keep asking myself when I run into TOS issues: Why wasn't this a problem when I was 20 years old?

The answer: We no longer move the same way as adults.

KY

Great answer. I know you have it bilaterally but I'm curious as to what your symptoms were when they were bad. Thanks

Right side symptoms (about 2.5 years ago):

* Scapular burning.
* Upper arm tricep burning.
* Pain at the elbow due to ulnar irritation.
* Tingling and twitching fingers.

Left side (starting this past December):

* Neck pain.
* Throbbing pain in my forearm / hand.
* Tingling fingers.

I'd say the most recent bout was more painful in that it prevented me from sleeping. I can deal with pain well as long as I can be unconscience for a few hours and forget it's there.

KY

I also incorporated some of the foundation work in order to build up the posterior chain as they say, but I have to refrain from the exercises where the arms are held up. I lose all circulation in my left arm instantly when I raise it. Also, too much arm raising flares me up.

Back again. My symptoms gone.

I can't say enough about this training.

There's no way this doesn't help.

KY

So what's your routine? How often do you do it? Did you have to adapt any of the exercises?