If your upper back gives out before your legs do, you’re leaving time on the table.
A strong, mobile upper back helps you stay tall, breathe better, and move more efficiently through some of the toughest stations in HYROX—especially wallballs, sled pulls, and farmer carries.
Those wallballs are the final test. By then, fatigue has set in, and your posture can make or break your finish.
Build the spinal mobility and muscular endurance to stay upright, keep moving efficiently, and finish strong when it matters most!
✌️♥️💪
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Wallballs breaking you down? 🏐😫
If your upper back gives out, your wallball shots will too. Try these tips to stay tall, keep moving efficiently, and finish the last station of your Hyrox strong. 💪
Save this for your next race or training session!
Expert wall ball tips from Coach Jordan and Dr. Caitlin! Check out tomorrow’s post for the best accessory moves to make your wall balls the easiest part of your workout!
07/07/2026
Sled pulls are also an excellent way to strengthen your hinge pattern if you have low back, hip or hamstring issues.
Not only are they amazing for general fitness but they are a very functional exercise that can be done light or heavy depending on your rehab level.
07/02/2026
The step-down test is one of the simplest—and most revealing—screens for running readiness. 🏃♀️
It’s not just about “can you do it,” but how you do it.
Watching a controlled step down exposes what running will eventually demand at scale:
✅single-leg eccentric control
✅pelvic stability
✅frontal plane knee control
✅foot/ankle strategy under load
If those pieces break down here, they usually show up louder once speed, fatigue, and mileage increase.
Common findings that matter for runners:
• Pelvic drop or trunk shift → reduced lateral hip control
• Knee valgus collapse → poor load transfer through the kinetic chain
• Foot collapse or delayed pronation control → inefficient shock absorption
• Slow or hesitant descent → limited eccentric quad/hamstring capacity
From a physical therapy standpoint, this isn’t a pass/fail test—it’s a map. It helps guide whether an athlete is ready to progress volume, introduce intensity, or whether they need more capacity work first.
Running doesn’t create these demands—it exposes them.
Train them early, and you buy yourself consistency later.
Can you do 20 controlled step-downs from an 8 inch step while keeping your knee aligned and pelvis level?
Try it, count your reps, and comment with your score. Tag a runner who needs to test their single-leg control, and save this post for your next strength session.
Stop trying to muscle the sled. Lock in your core, keep your arms long, drive through your legs, and stay consistent with every pull. Small adjustments = big gains.
Every meter counts. The HYROX sled pull isn’t about brute force—it’s about technique, efficiency, and staying composed when fatigue sets in. Train smart now so race day feels familiar. 💪🔥
Even though the sled pull station requires a lot of lower extremity strength it also requires a significant amount of pulling strength with your upper body.
Either one of the variations coached in our previous videos are enhanced by upper back and lat strength. This accessory exercise is one of the best ways to make your sled pull most efficient.
Every inch of the sled has to be earned. No shortcuts. No momentum. Just grit. 💥 here are two sled pull strategies that are most efficient. Comment on the one that works best for you 👇💬
Option 1: HYROX Tip: Think “legs first, arms second.” Drive backward with powerful steps, keep your chest up, and avoid relying only on your upper body. Efficient movement beats wasted energy every time. 🏁
Option 2: Sled pull isn’t just about brute strength—it’s about staying low, bracing your core, driving through your legs, and staying consistent from start to finish. Efficiency wins races. 🔥
🔥 Heel pain during sled pushes? You’re not alone.
One of the most common complaints we hear in Hyrox training is heel pain showing up halfway through those long sled efforts.
The good news? Sometimes the issue isn’t the heel itself—it’s how the foot is moving and producing force.
In this video, we’re walking (see what I did there? 💀) through 3 loaded calf and big toe drills that help:
✅ Improve foot mobility
✅ Build strength through the calf-foot complex
✅ Generate more power with every push
Because when your foot can move well, you can keep driving through all 50m instead of limping to the finish line. 😅
Give these a try and let us know which one humbles you the most. 👇
You could pretend to do random mobility and rehab in the corner of the gym by yourself, or you could book REMOM Class Tuesdays at 7:45-8:15am CrossFit Grandview Grandview Barbell with Dr. Mandi Dr. Mandi V. PT and get exactly what you need to improve your mobility, flexibility and stability. Up to you! Results vary, but include, less pain, better squats and PRs!!!
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