Longevity & Performance Institute

Longevity & Performance Institute Experts in treating the root cause of your pain, specializing in orthopedics, sports performance, and pelvic health 💪

Reclaiming Strength 💪
09/06/2026

Reclaiming Strength 💪

09/04/2026

Calves aren't meant to be glutes or hamstrings. They're designed differently, they're sized differently, they produce force differently...the list can go on. Figure out why your calves are acting in lieu of dysfunctional hamstrings and/or glutes and you'll figure out why you'll never need to do another calf raise to get rid of your tight calves.

So many PTs on IG these days jump from symptom to diagnosis without any reasoning in between. They'll say,
"If your calves are tight when you run.....Then they must be weak! So, strengthen them and you'll be fine!"
And then we end up seeing so many of the folks who took this advice, wasted their time doing calf raises for the better part of a year, and still had calf pain or tightness. Why? Hint: it's not because the calves were too weak.

Simply jumping to a conclusion of weakness leaves so many unanswered questions, like:
What specifically tells you that the calf tightness is a weakness issue? The inability to do 25 single leg heel raises is not enough of a reason.

What is the actual function of the calves, how do they play a role as part of a system and not just an isolated piece of your body (because nothing in our body works in isolation), and how does calf tightness fit into the big picture when assessing what's lacking elsewhere in the system (rib cage dynamics, head/neck position, pelvic dynamics, hip function, arm swing, etc.)? Because when someone runs, do they only move their ankles?

Absolutely not - everything moves together.

Do the movement limitations you see as a practitioner during their walking/running align with the tests on the table, and do those things align with your assumption that their calves are "weak," or is something else going on?

If joint positions dictate function of the muscles that surround them, then where is the person's center of gravity, how is that affecting hip/knee/ankle position and how is that changing length of the calves relative to the rest of the muscles up the chain? And, how is that changing their function?

There are so many other questions that need to be answered before throwing "strengthen your calves" at the wall and hoping it sticks.

09/03/2026

So many PTs on IG these days jump from symptom to diagnosis without any reasoning in between. They'll say, "If your calves are tight when you run..... Then they must be weak! So, strengthen them and you'll be fine!"
And then we end up seeing so many of the folks who took this advice, wasted their time doing calf raises for the better part of a year, and still had calf pain or tightness. Why? Hint: it's not because the calves were too weak.

Simply jumping to a conclusion of weakness leaves so many unanswered questions, like:
What specifically tells you that the calf tightness is a weakness issue? The inability to do 25 single leg heel raises is not enough of a reason.

What is the actual function of the calves, how does they play a role as part of a system and not an isolated piece of your body (because nothing in our body works in isolation), and how does calf tightness fit into the big picture when assessing what's lacking elsewhere in the system (rib cage dynamics, head/neck position, pelvic dynamics, hip function, arm swing, etc.)? Because when someone runs, do they only move their ankles?

Absolutely not - everything moves together.
Do the movement limitations you see as a practitioner during their walking/running align with the tests on the table, and do those things align with your assumption that their calves are "weak," or is something else going on?

If joint positions dictate function of the muscles that surround them, then where is their center of gravity, how is that afecting hip/knee/ankle position and how is that changing length of the calves relative to the rest of the muscles up the chain? And, how is that changing their function? There are so many other questions that need to be answered before throwing "strengthen your calves" at the wall and hoping it sticks.

Spoiler alert: calves aren't meant to be glutes or hamstrings. Figure out why they're acting like glutes or hamstrings and you'll figure out why you'll never need to do another calf raise to get rid of your tight calves.

09/02/2026

Forearm pain does not always start at the forearm.

This recreational tennis player was experiencing distal ulnar sided forearm pain with overhead movement during her serve.

Rather than only treating the painful area, we looked at how she was organizing movement through the pelvis, ribcage, and trunk, and how that might influence what she ultimately asks the arm to do overhead.

1. Reposition the pelvis and ribcage

We started in sidelying with pelvic overpressure to reduce her tendency toward an anteriorly oriented pelvis and improve the relationship between her pelvis and ribcage.

2. Create more movement options through the thorax

Next, we used right sided spinal foam rolling to create an upward and leftward pressure gradient, giving her more options to move and orient through the trunk.

3. Use the newly gained mobility

Finally, we moved into a closed chain modified quadruped position so she could actively control and use the mobility we had just gained.

The goal is not to create perfect alignment.

It is to give the body more movement options upstream, then teach it how to use those options so the arm does not have to find all of the available motion during an overhead task like a tennis serve.

Reposition. Create options. Integrate. Return to the task.

This is one piece of the clinical reasoning process and does not suggest that all ulnar sided forearm pain originates from the pelvis or ribcage.

09/01/2026

Katie is a basketball player who initially presented with right groin pain, which fully resolved after the first session. Her subjective history revealed multiple right ankle sprains, including one injury that was diagnosed as an ankle sprain, although she believed she had actually sustained an ankle fracture.

We’ve been working to address other complaints after taking care of hip, the main one being her right ankle pain and stiffness when kneeling and after playing basketball.

Watch as we systematically work to identify local and regional factors that influence her foot and ankle mobility.

If you’re a basketball player struggling with nagging ankle pain or injuries, shoot us a DM and let us help you get back on your feet!

08/31/2026

Looking to improve your vertical jump after your ACL injury? Try these exercises to improve your power development. Make sure that you are using something relatively heavy but you are moving fast.

Are you getting ready to return to sport but feel like you can't jump up as high as you used to? Book a free Discovery Call with us today to see how we can help.

08/31/2026

Our clinic is designed to be a place where you can move better, feel stronger, and work toward your goals with personalized physical therapy every step of the way.

Come visit us and see how we can help you get back to doing what you love. 💪

Rehab done right looks like this.
08/30/2026

Rehab done right looks like this.

08/28/2026

Course: Clinical Application of Technology in the Evaluation and Treatment of Gait-Related Pain and Dysfunction

Always grateful for opportunities to keep learning and sharpening the way we approach movement and rehab.

A huge thank you to my patient for giving up part of their weekend to volunteer and be part of the learning process! I appreciate the trust and willingness to let us learn from you!

And another big thank you to Dr. Chris Powers for hosting another incredible course and sharing his expertise on gait mechanics, movement, and performance.

Always so much to take away and bring back into the clinic.

Never stop learning.

08/27/2026

Not just healing - rebuilding

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909 S. Santa Anita Avenue, Unit A
Arcadia, CA
91006

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