A fitness Rant

Ok, just had a ‘conversation’ with a long time client of mine. Recently another trainer on my staff has been working with this person. When I left them a few months ago the client was pain free and well on their way to achieving their goals. Recently we have been dealing with a resurgence of shoulder and neck issues (this is what the client originally came in for) After a good bit of the ‘the blame game’ I determined a few things.

1) The client does not stretch herself, does not use the foam roll for self massage or the ’stick’ for self massage. The client also neglects to come in for a maintenance massage as recommended.

2) The client has re-entered what is called an ‘upper crossed syndrome’ which is essentially a forward head posture, tight anterior neck, tight pects and traps and weak mid-back and shoulder blades.

3) The client has lost the ability to fire her scapular (shoulder blade) stabilizers and because of this simple movements are causing pain.

SO, what have we learned? Be responsible for yourself, stretch daily. Use your foam roll and ’stick’ a few days a week with out fail. As a practitioner or participant never assume that you will not loose what you worked to gain….use it or loose it. If something that used to feel good now causes pain there is most likely either a tight muscle or body part or your technique/application of that particular exercise is flawed.