Phil Faris: I have some knee issues. I have some torn meniscus, and I found that I couldn’t squat as deeply as I used to I have some functional limitations there. It’s very frustrating for me because I was always taught to go below parallel, and right now that’s just something that won’t happen. How do you work with people like me who have some issues that limit their mobility?
Mark Palmieri: That’s a wonderful question. The only real way to handle it is a unique, individual basis. To answer your question specifically, knowing that you’ve had an athletic background, and you’re probably very comfortable with most of the movements. If you’re using phrases like, ‘we’ve got to go below parallel.’ A lot of science has come out looking at the movement patterns. I don’t want to get too specific with the physiology of stuff because it gets a little muddy, but there are a lot of people who are incapable of going that low functionally, just because their bone structure won’t allow it. Well, they can, but they’re going to be hurting hips or knees.
