29 Dec The Complete Guide To Use Kneeling Variations To Improve Total-Body Strength And Integrity
INTRODUCTION
As a fitness professional, one of my main goals is to help people gain mastery of their bodies. I enjoy figuring out the most efficient and effective way to make this happen for each individual.
I believe there is both an art and a science to working with people in a fitness setting. It’s a constant process of testing and retesting, keeping the individual’s goals in mind while infusing experience with exercise tweaks that enable forward progress.
Most who enlist the expertise of a fitness professional are looking to improve their fitness level, obtain optimal body composition, and be healthier for life. Many may not be as concerned with learning to optimize movement, but without an approach that places importance on this, any fitness goal will be compromised.
What I can tell you is that giving individuals the opportunity to improve – and even regain – movement pattern proficiency is extremely rewarding and beneficial for my clients.
ENTER MOTOR CONTROL AND OPTIMAL ALIGNMENT
I have found that many people, especially women, are not proficient at creating and maintaining proper levels of tension throughout the body during exercises.
Being able to control the movement limit of a pattern, the end range, can be a challenge for many people.
Compensations are red flags that a movement is too challenging for an individual.
Resorting to compensatory behaviors such as unnecessary bracing, improper breath holding or breathing difficulty, facial fixing, toe clawing, and/or bracing with the neck muscles tells us that reaching this end range is too much for the body to control.
The body will find a way to “survive” movements, but this is not what we want if acquiring more efficient, authentic movement patterns is the goal.
Finding a range of motion that is suitable for an individual’s current level is key.
The position where an individual can breathe without strain is called the breathing end range, and this can be considered to be an individual’s baseline.
In addition, I have observed that many people are prone to “hanging out” on their joints.
What does this mean? Well, adopting slouchy and sloppy postures which over time lead to imbalance. I have personal experience with this, as for many years of my life I defaulted to an extension-based posture.
Perhaps it had something to do with my background in dance, gymnastics, and springboard diving, but I believe I was simply never taught how to stand with proper alignment. I remember being told I was “swaybacked” numerous times during my childhood, and I would stand with my knees bowed out.
In fact, I have not-so-fond memories of being in ballet at the age of seven and being whacked on the posterior with a yardstick because the “tuck your derriere under” cue just didn’t resonate. I could not seem to stand that way.
My relationship with herniated disks in my lumbar spine is an amicable one these days, but for many years of my adult life I simply did not know how to counteract my “bad back.” I began lifting at the age of 17 and obtained my first personal training certification at the age of 19.
Back in the ‘90s, the trend was bodybuilding-style training and there was nowhere near the amount of information on corrective exercise, movement pattern dysfunction, and improving total-body integrity in the fitness setting.
I’m sure I never came across any article in Muscle & Fitness that had to do with core training or addressing musculoskeletal imbalances. I’m also sure I did a few too many stiff-legged deadlifts without knowing how to achieve and maintain a neutral pelvis. These were some of the problems.
It wasn’t until 2004 with the explosion of “Functional Training” that I began to have some incredible “a-ha” moments.
No one teaches us how to properly align our bodies in various positions, therefore what feels “neutral” or is the default for an individual may be in need of adjustment or correction.
ENTER THE KNEELING POSITIONS
I have found the kneeling positions to be beneficial for any individual for a variety of reasons. In both tall- and half-kneeling, you effectively decrease a person’s height, thus bringing their center of mass closer to the ground. The ability to stabilize becomes better at this reduced postural demand.
In my experience, half-kneeling (kneeling on one knee) can be a very effective way for many to understand how to obtain “neutral pelvis.” In addition, those who have difficulty maintaining neutral in standing positions may gain better ownership of it through taking things closer to the ground.
The asymmetry provided by the half-kneeling position makes neutral more obtainable. In addition, this asymmetrical position can help neutralize any rotational discrepancies with regard to the pelvis and thoracic spine.
I feel that tall-kneeling (kneeling on both knees) can be thought of as a “kneeling plank,” and it is a viable option for those who have sufficient hip extension mobility. It bears repeating that any position cannot truly be acquired if there is a mobility issue present that interferes with the starting position. As Gray Cook has said, “the posture is the soil and the movement pattern is the seed.”
If an individual cannot get into the “start” position, it’s crazy to assume things will improve once movement begins.
When working with a person who lacks the ability to get into tall-kneeling because of mobility restrictions, I do what I can to address those restrictions while concurrently using half-kneeling exercises in their programming.
For anyone else, both tall- and half-kneeling are feasible options. Let’s cover the specifics.
HAMMERING A SOLID HALF-KNEELING SET-UP
The Set-Up Explained (*Important)
- Everything is aligned as if you are on train tracks. We want everything parallel and feet lining up straight ahead
- Knees at 90 degrees
- Bolster the down-side knee if the pelvis is not horizontal (look for a hip hike)
- “Get tall” through the down-side hip
- “Don’t spill your margarita” – perform a slight posterior pelvic tilt to neutralize the pelvis
USE TOOLS TO FACILITATE PROPER BREATHING
- Perform a 1-arm contra-lateral band press – exhale with press for 4s, then hold for remainder of exhale for each rep – should feel obliques and glute of that side (see below)
- Perform a 1-arm PVC or mobility stick press-out in a similar manner (see below)
- Both options can continue to be used as warm-up drills once mastery of half-kneeling position has been acquired
- Very good for chops and lifts as well as pallofs
- Not useful for exercises where the goal is being able to really load up the exercise – stay with traditional half-kneel
- Push down through the individual’s shoulders to help achieve neutral pelvic alignment -“don’t let me squish you”
- Raise arms overhead, then slowly turn to one side, then the other – this may be an exercise in itself!
- Move the arms in various patterns; hold a light medicine ball and perform transfer it from one hand to the other at different positions
- Move into tightrope half-kneeling and retest
- Overhead Raise + Rotation (see below)
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- Arm Patterns/Medicine Ball Patterns (see below)
What can we do from here?
All sorts of things: Ketlebell halos, overhead presses, front/side raises, scaption, rows, pull-aparts, med ball throws, chops and lifts…the list goes on and on.
The kneeling positions can be used for exercises that emphasize motor control as well as exercises with a strength focus.
In addition, exercises that emphasize power and even metabolic work can be done from tall- and half-kneeling. Essentially, these positions can be used to perform a variety of exercises that are typically done in a seated or standing position.
WHEN TO USE THE KNEELING POSITIONS?
1) In warm-ups, half-kneeling drills come in handy to open up the tight anterior hip.
These are typically unloaded to lightly-loaded movements. A static half-kneeling stretch or “couch stretch” is useful here, as reducing any excess tone in the region is advantageous. Examples include:
Examples include:
- Half-Kneeling Tilts (see below)
- Basic Static Half-Kneeling Stretch (see below)
- Couch Stretch (see below)
- Half-Kneeling Glide Variations
- 1/2-Kneeling Glide (see below)
- 1/2-Kneeling Glide with Tri-Planar Arm Drives (see below)
- 1/2-Kneeling Glide to Contra-Lateral Overhead Press (see below)
- 1/2-Kneeling Glide to PVC Press-Out (see below)
In warm-ups, open half-kneeling variations can be great for addressing the adductors.
Examples include:
- Open Half-Kneeling Adductor Glide aka “Captain Morgan” (see below)
- Split Quadruped Rockback aka “Beyonce” (one of my rockstar clients gave it this name because it reminded her of a famous Beyonce pose) (see below)
In warm-ups, half- and tall-kneeling drills can also be great for opening up the anterior torso as well as addressing scapular control and shoulder mobility.
Examples include:
- Half- or Tall-Kneeling KB Halos (see below)
- Half- or Tall-Kneeling KB Halos with Press-Out (for additional core/glute benefit) – press the kettlebell away from your chest after performing each rep
- Open Half-Kneeling T-Reach (see below)
- Split Quadruped T-Spine Rotations (see below)
Furthermore, the kneeling positions are great for performing light “prehab” exercises done in warm-ups. These are also great when performed at the end of workouts as active recovery, and/or on rest days.
Examples include:
- Half- or Tall-Kneeling Band Rows (see below)
- Half- or Tall-Kneeling Band Straight-Arm Pulldowns (see below)
- Half- or Tall-Kneeling Band Shoulder Extension Holds (see below)
- Half- or Tall-Kneeling Band Reverse Flye (see below)
- Half- or Tall-Kneeling Band Pull-Apart Variations (see below)
- Half- or Tall-Kneeling Band Face Pull to Y Press (see below)
- Half- or Tall-Kneeling Band Circles (see below)
- Half- or Tall-Kneeling Band Scaption (see below)
- Half- or Tall-Kneeling Band Press + Protraction (see below)
- Half- or Tall-Kneeling Band Flye (see below)
- Half- or Tall-Kneeling Dumbbell Scaption (see below)
2) The kneeling variations can be used as a “primer” to a traditional lift.
I like this because a unilateral approach can be taken prior to loading up a bilateral barbell movement. Light to moderate loads are recommended here.
Examples include:
- Half-kneeling DB Arnold Presses or KB OHPs (contra-lateral) – prior to performing strict presses
- prefer KB to open up the shoulder (see below)
- Tall-Kneeling Alternating-Arm KB OHPs
3) As a stand-alone exercise, kneeling variations are rarely ever a bad idea.
I feel any opportunity to sneak in some additional stabilization work is a good thing, especially when we are considering most people do not have time to waste in the gym. The kneeling positions really place a demand on the abs and glutes, and everyone can benefit from that.
I often like to have my clients perform single-joint movements from the kneeling positions. Moderate to heavy loading can be done here.
Examples include:
- Tall- or Half-Kneeling KB/DB Overhead Press Variations (see below)
- Tall- or Half-Kneeling Landmine 2-Arm and 1-Arm Presses (see below)
- Tall- or Half-Kneeling Landmine Rainbows & Half-Rainbows (see below)
- Half-Kneeling Cable or Band 2-Arm and 1-Arm Rows (see below)
- Tall- or Half-Kneeling DB Lateral Raises, Front Raises, and Combo Raises (see below)
- Tall- or Half-Kneeling Band/Cable Chops and Lifts (see below)
- Tall- or Half-Kneeling Pallof Variations (see below)
- Tall- or Half-Kneeling Battle Rope Variations (see below)
- Tall- or Half-Kneeling Medicine Ball Slams & Throws (see below)
- Another example of medicine ball work (see below)
- Over the top slam example (see below)
As you can see, these kneeling positions can be used for exercises that emphasize motor control as well as exercises with a total body strength focus.
Let’s quickly summarize when to use these positions:
1-As a warm-up.
2-As an exercise “primer” for bigger lifts.
3-As a “stand-alone.”
Pick a few of these examples and integrate them into your program, and do not worry about using heavier loads for now. Understand why you’re using them.
I feel confident that you will experience the benefits provided from tall- and half-kneeling variations to improve strength and total-body integrity as I’ve outlined.
FURTHER REFERENCE:
Cook, G., Burton, L., Kiesel, K., Bryant, M., & Torine, J. (2015). Movement: Functional Movement Systems: Screening, Assessment, and Corrective Strategies. Aptos, CA: On Target Publications.
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Sarah Rippel is a Functional Movement Specialist and Precision Nutrition certified coach who owns and operates Rippel Effect Fitness in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She has a background in competitive springboard diving and gymnastics, fitness competitions, triathlon, and most recently powerlifting. Sarah has been working with clients for over two decades in a variety of settings. She also provides online fitness and nutrition coaching. In addition, she is the author of “Build n’ Burn,” which provides a systematized 16-week total-body training system. Her focus on helping her clients move better and feel better has enabled her to get results in a safe, fun, and efficient manner. Be sure to find Sarah and learn more at: www.rippeleffectfitness.net or you can also check out http://smartfitproworkouts.com/build-n-burn
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