I spent 5 hours in a hospital waiting room while my father had surgery. I was reading a good book (The Lion) and did not get up out of my chair. When it came time to leave, my whole leg was asleep. The next morning, my wife and I were on our morning walk and she pointed out that my left foot was slapping the sidewalk.
I had my annual hip check-up with the doctor the next day and he was concerned that the foot drop and numbness could be a herniated disk. I brought this up to my CrossFit trainer and he suggested a one-on-one session with Ryan McDowell to checkout my functional movement.
I got in with Ryan right away and he spent the better part of an hour evaluating my functional movement. He noted that my left hip was incredibly tight, with almost no flexibility. Ryan suggested that the tightness in my hip may be constricting the sciatic nerve as it emerges from my hip bone, which was causing the foot drop and leg numbness. Later that day he sent me 7 exercises to help improve my functional movement, 4 of which worked on my hip flexibility.
The minute I started doing the exercises, it was like someone flipped a switch. Within 48 hours of commencing Ryan’s exercises, 95% of my symptoms went away. Within a week, they were all gone. A subsequent appointment with a spine specialist confirmed precisely what Ryan had assessed: the nerve was simply being pinched by an all too-tight muscle mass around my left hip.
I was so impressed with Ryan’s work, I sent my wife to meet him and go through the same evaluation. If you have any movement or flexibility issues, an hour spent with Ryan will put you on track to move up to a whole new level. I strongly recommend him!
-Terry Gruggen, Bloomington, MN
I came to train with Ryan through the Metropolis Rugby Club. Our sessions were group sessions that consisted of specific instruction on how to properly complete specific weight lifting techniques (squats, deadlifts, cleans, snatches,…). We were also provided a workout to complete at Crossfit Mn. Although the sessions were physically and mentally demanding, Ryan was able to create an atmosphere at the gym where encouragement, and hard work were major players. Additionally, at these sessions that occurred twice a week, we were able to discuss various health and fitness related topics with Ryan such as nutrition, flexibility and mobility, as well as injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Ryan also provided us with a weekly workout regimen that was to be completed outside of the Crossfit facility. These workouts were usually demanding, but not to the point of being unable to complete them. Ryan was also readily available to answer any questions we had regarding these workouts.
The results of my rugby specific training with ryan have been incredible. I am now stronger, faster and more mobile than I have ever been before. Also, thanks to his advice on nutrition, I have been able to loose a substantial amount of weight over the course of our training sessions.
Our summer session is about to begin and I cannot wait to start!
Pierre-Paul Gros, Minneapolis, MN
I’m not exactly sure when it happened, it took a number of months- but one day the pain was just gone. I wouldn’t have believed it was possible. I’m working out in CrossFit classes now and doing things I never dreamed I would do again. It’s not uncommon to do a hundred or more situps in a workout and I can do every one of them. I have Ryan to thank for that. Ryan McDowell knows what he’s doing, and you won’t find a more positive or enthusiastic trainer. I’m so glad I met him when I did.
Derek Anderson
Minneapolis
I came to train with Ryan through the Metropolis Rugby Club. Our sessions were group sessions that consisted of specific instruction on how to properly complete specific weight lifting techniques (squats, deadlifts, cleans, snatches,…). We were also provided a workout to complete at Crossfit Mn. Although the sessions were physically and mentally demanding, Ryan was able to create an atmosphere at the gym where encouragement, and hard work were major players. Additionally, at these sessions that occurred twice a week, we were able to discuss various health and fitness related topics with Ryan such as nutrition, flexibility and mobility, as well as injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Ryan also provided us with a weekly workout regimen that was to be completed outside of the Crossfit facility. These workouts were usually demanding, but not to the point of being unable to complete them. Ryan was also readily available to answer any questions we had regarding these workouts.
The results of my rugby specific training with ryan have been incredible. I am now stronger, faster and more mobile than I have ever been before. Also, thanks to his advice on nutrition, I have been able to loose a substantial amount of weight over the course of our training sessions.
Our summer session is about to begin and I cannot wait to start!
Pierre-Paul Gros