3 Things I Learned From Kelly Starrett

*Originally posted in 2021

Who is Kelly Starrett?

@thereadystate

Kelly Starrett is a world class coach, physical therapist, author, speaker and finally creator of the blog, MobilityWOD – now The Ready State. He is obsessed with human movement, and has created a movement where athletes are thinking more about the way they move. He has come out with multiple books such as two versions of Becoming a Supple Leopard, as well as Deskbound.

I had the opportunity to meet Kelly, and I can say with confidence that he definitely knows what he is talking about. I’ve learned many principles, but the three points I will discuss below are my top takeaways. For one entire year Kelly put a YouTube video out that highlighted a common fault, how to fix a movement pattern or other mobility techniques to better yourself as a human and athlete.

#1 How to self-treat

Everyone has those little nagging injuries that never seem to fully go away. You tweak something, you experience tightness in your shoulders, hips, ankles, etc., and it’s been hindering your progress forward. What have you done to correct these issues? Some will see doctors or chiropractors, but it is essential to look into what you can do to self treat yourself.

However, you should always consult with a doctor that is well-versed in this arena. I have had a few lingering injuries with involving my left bicep tendon and my patellar tendon (around knee). Kelly showed me a few things that I incorporated into my personal mobility and rehab such as a pec smash, voodoo flossing (think of a bike tube) around the areas, and band distraction for my lats. His unconventional way of thinking and methods seamlessly fit into my way of thinking. Almost all of these methods can be found in his book called, Becoming a Supple Leopard.

#2 The problem isn’t always what actually hurts

This point is something that may not be as obvious as it sounds. One good example of this would be my shoulder. My shoulder mobility isn’t the greatest, and it has given me some issues in the past. Your first instinct is most likely to go straight to the part of your shoulder that hurts, however, it may be up or downstream of the affected area that is causing the problem. Maybe it’s your lat or oblique not activating correctly and that is breaking your chain.

➡️ Kelly in action (knee)
➡️ Kelly in action (shoulder)

#3 Understanding what compensation means

Have you head the term “compensation” when it comes to injury or movement? Let’s say that your right hip flexor hurts when you hit the bottom of the squat. Is that right hip flexor the actual source of the problem? Most would probably assume that it is, and go on to tackle that area to try to make it feel better. That’s all well and good, but maybe the root of the issue is tied into your lower back or elsewhere.

Take the back squat for example. Something as fundamental as keeping your feet even when squatting can cause you issues in the long-term. You need to know what to look for, and the way to know what to look for is to seek out professionals, self-educate yourself and practical application.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
DO YOUR RESEARCH.

What I am saying is do your homework and research while be conscious of your movements. If you can, go to a functional sports med or doctor to see if they can see the cause. It is your responsibility to do this, or if you can’t afford this, seek out resources online to take care of yourself. We should all be capable of performing basic maintenance on ourselves to prevent injury.

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