Martin Haley - Solutions Fitness

04/09/2025

Here's the video follow up to yesterday's post about muscles 'switching off, going to sleep, being weak'.
If you haven't already, go read it first ⬇️⬇️⬇️

03/09/2025

I laughed the other week. There's a Physiotherapist back in the UK, actually quite close to where I was based, who would regularly criticize other therapists for a particular reason, with online posts. They would say therapists should stop telling their clients that their Glutes had 'switched off' or were 'weak'.

I've posted about this before, possibly a few years back now, but thought I would post some proof that their is such a thing as 'Gluteal Amnesia' or 'weak' Glutes.

Maybe it's the play on words that the Physio doesn't like, but below I have attached a couple of images containing Scientific Evidence that muscles DO go to sleep, switch off, go weak - these are from world renowned therapists (Chaitow/Liebenson). Also attached are some screen shots of a particular issue called Gluteal Amnesia from various medical publications.

Maybe the terminology is not 100% correct (like Dead Butt Syndrome, :-) ), but it is often easier to use this type of wording so we don't confuse our clients. I like to use basic language with clients, then back it up if I feel it is necessary. I know other therapists like to use technical wording or names but I feel the majority of clients just won't understand.

I will often tell a client, after muscle testing, that their Glutes are 'testing weak'. I will always follow that by saying weak is not the correct term but it is easier to understand. I will always say it is actually that the muscle(s) are inhibited and that it is more correct to say the signal is not reaching the muscle(s).

If you don't believe a muscle can 'switch off' or go to 'sleep', how do you think compensations happen?

I will make and post a video about this so you have a visual explanation.

As always, would love to hear your comments on this below, whether positive or negative...

29/08/2025

No fancy pants Gym required. Just a few Kettlebells and some bodyweight exercises, and you're good to go...

#

#

27/08/2025

Over the years, well, 32 years up until now, I've often been asked how I got into this line of work. So I thought I'd put a little video together and tell the story...

Martin Haley is a Sports Therapist based in Competa, Malaga, Spain. With 30+ years experience, we assess, treat and rehabilitate sports and recreational inju...

22/08/2025

What are Orthotic inserts and why do I dislike them so much? Don't go down this route until you find out the 'cause' of your issues...

Martin Haley is a Sports Therapist based in Competa, Malaga, Spain. With 30+ years experience, we assess, treat and rehabilitate sports and recreational inju...

19/08/2025

So what is Plantar Fasciitis?

A common foot pain injury I deal with that I almost never touch the foot.

Competa, Malaga based Sports Therapist Martin Haley talks about a common injury/problem seen in clinic. Plantar Fasciitis is foot pain commonly found in runn...

01/08/2025

The most common non-sporting injury or issue I see with clients, is with the Trapezius muscle. This muscle, which extends from the base of skull, down to collar bone, shoulder blade, then down to mid back like a huge diamond.

It’s functions are many and it has 3 parts, upper, middle and lower. It extends the head backwards, flexes the head, turns head. It lifts the shoulders, lowers the shoulders, and brings shoulder blades together. It’s the King of multi-tasking!

The upper and middle sections tend to become tense in a lot of people, from poor posture, excessive time driving, but mainly from tension, stress or anxiety – people hunch their shoulders.

When this muscle group becomes tight, it can produce headaches, head tension, neck pain, upper arm pain and even low back pain – it is common that someone will come to me for low back pain but the cause is actually coming from the neck!

So if you have nagging upper body pain that you just can’t seem to solve, maybe it is not coming from where you feel it...

23/07/2025

I was finishing up work a few days ago when Mrs H popped into the treatment room and said she needed to get on the treatment table. She NEVER does that!

She absolutely will not get on that couch unless she's in pain.

She says her upper arm hurts and wasn't able to do any push-ups. Knowing how cranky she gets if she can't train, I asked her to do certain movements with her arm. All good, no pain.

So I tested her arm and shoulder movements against resistance. No pain, all good. Squeezed her Traps - YELP!

So on the couch, did a few minutes work to her Trapezius muscle, then told her to try a push up - all good, no pain. Back on couch, another few minutes work to her Trap then some stretching. Off couch, she does 10 push-ups no issue.

Where you feel pain is almost NEVER the cause of that pain. Find the cause, don't treat the symptoms. STILL the Push-up Queen...

18/07/2025

So we've started some Shoulder Mobility, now let's work them...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYpk5sFuGDc&t=19s

Martin Haley, leading Sports Therapist based in Malaga, takes you through a lightweight shoulder workout, with limited equipment.Martin Haley is a Sports The...

16/07/2025

Just a Shoulder Mobility routine. Focus on quality movement over speed or reps. Excuse the brushing of the mic... :)

https://youtu.be/5sHej95e06M?si=cfEj4eDrIznJZlQK

Leading Sports Therapist Martin Haley takes you through a Mobility routine for your shouldershttps://www.facebook.com/SolutionsFitnessSpain

14/07/2025

If you're a Runner, then these are two exercises you MUST be doing on a regular basis!
Saying that, everyone should be doing these to ensure they maintain their balance, especially as we age.

But for runners, these exercises will strengthen your 'Posterior Chain' - your Glutes, Hamstrings and Back, and bullet proof your single leg stance.
No need to use additional weights initially but good to progress to using them going forwards.

Let me know how you get on...

10/07/2025

Out with the old, in with the new. Hopefully the new Hume will give more, and more accurate, information...