Movement is Medicine: Alliance Health Tackles an Obstacle Course
Recently the staff at Alliance Health participated in a community event called the Epic Series Obstacle Challenge. It was an obstacle course that was 1.5 miles long and included 25 obstacles and test of your physical abilities. This was, and was not, your typical obstacle course event. It included the 25 obstacles however there was no mud, water, or electricity involved and we did not have to walk or run long distances.
So what struck me about this event so much that I wanted to share?
- The event was family-friendly and friendly for every fitness level!
The event included options for every participant. There was a kids course that challenged the kids with their own version of the obstacles and strength challenges as the adults.
The main event was called “open.” This class created the opportunity for everyone to participate. The open class included novice, intermediate, and advanced options for all the obstacles. So depending on your fitness level you could choose which of the obstacles matched your ability!
For the high level athletes there were several options. There was a competitive class for the serious athletes. If you really wanted to be tested you could enter the elite class, which included heavier weights and strength challenges like pulling a vehicle.
Everyone who finished the course was a WINNER and received a medal and a T-shirt!
- The course included obstacles and activities that challenged human developmental movements from infancy to adult.
It included foundational movements such as rolling and crawling and progressed to the 7 complex movement patterns of life. Gait (walking, running), squatting, lunging, pulling, pushing, pressing (above the head) and twisting were all tested in this event.
We had to carry objects of different sizes and shapes including jugs filled with water, slosh pipes (thick pipes filled with water), and kegs. Our grip strength was challenged.
We had to step over things and go under obstacles. We climbed and pushed and pulled. These are movements that we use every day.
All of these movement patterns require finely tuned and orchestrated stability with action across multiple joints and muscles. What a great assessment of our ability to move! If you couldn’t complete an obstacle or an activity then you were left knowing what movement or movement patterns you needed to work on.
The most enjoyable aspect of the event for me was participating with my colleagues at Alliance Health and the 700+ community fitness enthusiasts who participated. Not to mention the volunteers, families and friends who came out to the inaugural event!
It was so rewarding to see our community coming together and moving together. For me it was an example of how we can become healthy and healthier together!
If you are an obstacle course racer, a fitness enthusiast, or want to move better, consider functional movement screens, full service rehabilitation and strengthening services, and programs to improve your performance.
(*CHECK OUT OUR PREVIOUS BLOG POSTS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ROLLING, CRAWLING, AND PRIMARY MOVEMENTS AND THE BENEFITS OF CARRYING HEAVY OBJECTS.*)
