Posture – James Maddock at The Urban Alchemist

Maximising Your Muscle Performance – The Crucial Balance Between Movers and Stabilisers

ByJames Maddock November 14, 2023

Understanding Muscle Dynamics is More Than Just Strength Training In fitness and sports performance, there’s a common misconception that muscle power is all about the big primary mover muscles – think pecs and glutes. However, true strength and efficiency come from a harmonious balance between “mover muscles” and “stabiliser muscles.” Stabiliser muscles are also known…

Are my muscles “pulled,” “twinged,” “torn,” “strained,” in “spasm,” or “sprained”?

ByJames Maddock May 18, 2020

Muscles, tendons, and ligaments; sprains, strains, and pulls. Just what is going on with your painful muscles, and what does it mean for getting better? This article is a guide

Experience | Manual therapy | Massage | Posture | Stress

Why I almost never put you face-down first for your massage treatment

ByJames Maddock March 24, 2017

There’s a conventional wisdom in massage therapy: “rub where it hurts.” This is wrong.

Why is back pain so common?

ByJames Maddock February 19, 2017

The facts of back pain: Back pain is especially common in the developed countries – and it seems that the more developed the country, the more back pain there is.[1][2][3] The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported 2021 that low back pain was the most physically disabling condition in the world, so if you have low back…

Pliability – or, how to train with fewer injuries

ByJames Maddock February 9, 2017

Don’t stretch before your workouts. Yeah, I said it. Here’s why..

The most important thing your massage therapist doesn’t know

ByJames Maddock October 28, 2016

Do you see a massage therapist for your sore, tight-feeling shoulders? If you do, there is every possibility they are making you feel worse, not better.