Brian Schiff

Brian Schiff, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, is a licensed physical therapist, respected author and fitness professional. Currently, he serves as the supervisor for Raleigh Orthopaedic Performance Center (formerly EXOS at Raleigh Orthopaedic). Brian conducts live continuing education webinars and presents nationally at professional conferences and seminars on injury prevention, rehab and sport-specific training.
Functionally Fit: Latissimus dorsi myofascial release
BY Brian Schiff
Oct. 1 2013
Overhead shoulder mobility is a concern for those participating in Olympic lifting, Crossfit and overhead sports. A common issue that restricts full elevation and may lead to shoulder dysfunction is tightness... View More
Functionally Fit: Posterior shoulder self trigger point technique
BY Brian Schiff
Sept. 15 2013
Improving posterior shoulder mobility will help reduce shoulder impingement, improve posture and maximize shoulder health. Tightness often develops in overhead athletes or in response to faulty posture... View More
Functionally Fit: Atlas split squats with perturbation
BY Brian Schiff
Sept. 1 2013
Training clients to maintain core stiffness in athletic functional positions will improve performance and reduce injury risks for the spine and lower extremities. This exercise is an effective way to address... View More
Functionally Fit: Tall plank shoulder circles
BY Brian Schiff
Aug. 15 2013
Improving pillar/torso strength should be a primary aim for all fitness programs. Utilizing neutral spine core work to minimize unwanted shear force on the lumbar spine is a safer and often more effective... View More
Functionally Fit: Knee hug to in-step lunge with rotation
BY Brian Schiff
Aug. 1 2013
Incorporating a dynamic warm-up prior to athletic activity and training is the preferred way to prime the body for exercise. This particular movement is an effective drill for addressing hip and thoracic... View More
Functionally Fit: Bretzzel
BY Brian Schiff
July 15 2013
Shoulder mobility limitations are often present in clients and many times are related to poor thoracic spine mobility. Addressing any asymmetry and resolving kinetic chain tightness is important to reduce... View More
Functionally Fit: Foam roller snow angels
BY Brian Schiff
July 1 2013
Pectoralis minor tightness coupled with poor scapular control often leads to postural dysfunction and shoulder problems. Improving scapular stabilizer activation and shoulder alignment will reduce rotator... View More
Functionally Fit: Sidestep with elastic resistance
BY Brian Schiff
June 15 2013
In the February 2013 Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy the sidestep with resistance ranked second on the list. In particular, this exercise had one of the lowest TFL activations thereby... View More
Functionally Fit: Resisted side lying clam
BY Brian Schiff
June 1 2013
Weakness in the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius is often cited in contributing to patellofemoral pain, IT band problems, hip pathology and even back pain. Furthermore, activating the glutes and minimizing... View More
Functionally Fit: Sliding hip flexor stretch
BY Brian Schiff
May 9 2013
Tightness in the hip flexors, especially the iliopsoas, can have a negative impact on the lumbar spine and pelvic motion. Excessive tightness creates undue stress and shear force on the lumbar spine particularly... View More
Functionally Fit: Closed chain unilateral serratus holds
BY Brian Schiff
May 1 2013
In many cases, shoulder dysfunction and pain are tied to weakness in the scapular stabilizing musculature. The serratus anterior is an integral part of the force couple working with the upper and... View More
Functionally Fit: Tall plank shoulder taps
BY Brian Schiff
April 14 2013
Assessing anti-rotation pillar strength is important prior to loading clients’ spines with torsional activity. From a tall plank position, you can assess torsional control by observing this test/exercise.... View More
Functionally Fit: Standing pectoralis soft tissue mobilization
BY Brian Schiff
April 1 2013
Tightness in the chest is a common issue that negatively impacts posture and may contribute to shoulder impingement and dysfunction. In this column, I will reveal how using a compression technique in combination... View More
Functionally Fit: Unstable plank with sliding hip flexion
BY Brian Schiff
March 15 2013
In a previous column, I addressed a tall static plank with sliding hip flexion. In this column, I am expanding on that concept with the use of the BOSU Ballast Ball and BOSU Balance Trainer. Developing... View More
Functionally Fit: Unstable upper body lateral step-ups
BY Brian Schiff
March 1 2013
In the previous column, I reviewed unstable upper body step-ups. This column expands on the column featuring unstable upper body step-ups using the BOSU Balance Trainer. Similar to lower body exercise... View More
Functionally Fit: Unstable upper body step-ups
BY Brian Schiff
Feb. 15 2013
Performing closed chain shoulder exercises is an integral part of training shoulder stability and promoting optimal scapular muscle control. In addition, it provides an opportunity to challenge the stability... View More
Functionally Fit: Theraband W
BY Brian Schiff
Feb. 1 2013
In the last column, I reviewed an exercise for the serratus anterior designed to improve scapular stability. I am continuing with another great elastic shoulder strengthening exercise. Many people are... View More
Functionally Fit: Theraband serratus push-ups
BY Brian Schiff
Jan. 15 2013
Maintaining healthy shoulders is vital for successful and long term resistance training. Over time, normal wear and tear as well repetitive use can cause shoulder dysfunction. Optimizing scapular stabilizer... View More
Functionally Fit: Tall plank with sliding hip flexion
BY Brian Schiff
Jan. 1 2013
Building pillar strength is important for clients and athletes alike. Specifically, improving anterior rotational stability is important for optimizing movement patterns and reducing injury risk. Execution:... View More
Functionally Fit: Iso bridge with alternate knee extension
BY Brian Schiff
Dec. 15 2012
Many of the clients and patients I see struggle with glute activation and pelvic stability. Imbalances and injuries often lead to poor postural control and the inability to maintain a level pelvis in single... View More
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