Cats & Dogs is a simple exercise that has been around for thousands of years, but it is still very relevant and effective at creating change in postural alignment, movement patterns, and overall health. Watch Brian Bradley from Egoscue explain how to do Cats & Dogs in the video below:
Question: What does Cats & Dogs do?
Answer: The movement of Cats & Dogs is spinal flexion and extension. The Cat position involves pelvic posterior tilting, spinal flexion, and scapular abduction or protraction. The Dog position involves pelvic anterior tilting, spinal extension, and scapular adduction or retraction.
Q: What's the purpose of Cats & Dogs?
A: Its essence is to remind the body that it can move through both flexion and extension and to teach both sides of the body to work together and move symmetrically. Many people spend the majority of their lives in spinal flexion and scapular abduction and Cats & Dogs will help reset the body back into a more neutral position. Many of us also have imbalances left to right in our bodies, whether it's torso/hip rotation or shoulder/hip elevation, and Cats & Dogs will help balance the body back out.
Q: When should I do Cats & Dogs?
A: Anytime! Cats & Dogs are a great exercise to do in the morning or before exercise because it will prepare your body for movement by creating more symmetry and balance in the body. Cats & Dogs are also wonderfully effective to do after exercise or at the end of the day to reset your body. Also anytime you have done something that is unilateral, Cats & Dogs are effective that balancing the body again. (Unilateral activities include: tennis, golf, bowling, baseball, twisting stretches, using a computer mouse, painting, or writing.)
Answer: The movement of Cats & Dogs is spinal flexion and extension. The Cat position involves pelvic posterior tilting, spinal flexion, and scapular abduction or protraction. The Dog position involves pelvic anterior tilting, spinal extension, and scapular adduction or retraction.
Q: What's the purpose of Cats & Dogs?
A: Its essence is to remind the body that it can move through both flexion and extension and to teach both sides of the body to work together and move symmetrically. Many people spend the majority of their lives in spinal flexion and scapular abduction and Cats & Dogs will help reset the body back into a more neutral position. Many of us also have imbalances left to right in our bodies, whether it's torso/hip rotation or shoulder/hip elevation, and Cats & Dogs will help balance the body back out.
Q: When should I do Cats & Dogs?
A: Anytime! Cats & Dogs are a great exercise to do in the morning or before exercise because it will prepare your body for movement by creating more symmetry and balance in the body. Cats & Dogs are also wonderfully effective to do after exercise or at the end of the day to reset your body. Also anytime you have done something that is unilateral, Cats & Dogs are effective that balancing the body again. (Unilateral activities include: tennis, golf, bowling, baseball, twisting stretches, using a computer mouse, painting, or writing.)
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