Monday, February 16, 2009
Strength Training Causes Muscle Imbalances?
Yes, you read the title correctly. A study published in the journal of strength and conditioning research from Nova Southern university showed that recreational strength trained men have a high incidence of muscle imbalances. Now, what have I been saying all this time? Traditional 'gym science' exercises on machines and focusing on the pretty muscles Will do nothing but cause and reinforce postural distortion and muscle imbalances. This directly correlates to injurious patterns, joint strain and muscle fatigue/damage. Remember that your chosen career sets you up for poor posture and repetitive patterns that are know to be rough on the body. What we know we know wrong folks, the gym class and high school weight room exercises of yesteryear are bad. They did not work then and they do not work now. Please realize that there is a better way to train, smarter and safer. The 'Fit Responder' book is just that, a BS filter to lead you down the path to safe health and wellness. Nothing pains me more than to see dedicated police/fire/ems responders in the gym vainly attempting to be fit and strong, unknowingly reinforcing postural patterns and setting up that cascade effect of injury. Just because a lot of folks have jumped on the band wagon of 'military type' fitness and are exercising at extreme intensity does not mean your body is ready for it. When was the last time you were tested for movement pattern dysfunction?
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Gut Check
Responders, please pay attention!
In the 'Back to Feeling Great' book there is an entire section dedicated to testing. The movement and biomechanical tests are accurate and valid, they can be applied to a vast population safely and can be re-tested bi-annualy. Without testing the base movements in the body we have no way of actually knowing what is working properly versus what is a cheat pattern. The best athletes cheat through a movement. it does not mean they are secure from injury just that they have mechanically figured out how to get it done faster, which we know is not always better.
I assessed a neighbor yesterday (she is teaching my wife to play piano) and she has a HX of Right sided Lower back Pain. With symptoms of 'popping' in the lower back and calf/foot numbness we have a problem. Now, this very smart lady has been to chiropractors, oriental medicine physicians, pilates instructors, massage therapists and her sister is a Physical Therapist. Do you think anyone picked up on her underlying issue? NO. I took her through the same tests in the 'Fit Responder' book plus a few ortho. tests and guess what? Pelvis is weak, and her spinal SEGMENTAL STABILIZERS are non existent. She shows signs of degenerative joint/disk and spinal instability. With really strong gross motor muscles(abs/obliques/quads/hip flexors)from years of pilates and yoga and a total inability to find and maintain NEUTRAL SPINE she has lost the ability to stabilize her spine = pain and popping. I put her into a standing neutral spine position with a slight hip hinge and she was totally pain free (it's in the book). When she gets back from the spine doctor I sent her to and we know exactly what her spine looks like I will help get her back to many of the activities she enjoys, pain free. All this took less than 45 min. to assess and teach some corrective exercises.
If I could go this far that quickly with such a level of accuracy why are we not doing this stuff on a departmental or clinical level on each person? Am I the only one that can see how much time/money will be saved by finding it and fixing it before it's broken?
In the 'Back to Feeling Great' book there is an entire section dedicated to testing. The movement and biomechanical tests are accurate and valid, they can be applied to a vast population safely and can be re-tested bi-annualy. Without testing the base movements in the body we have no way of actually knowing what is working properly versus what is a cheat pattern. The best athletes cheat through a movement. it does not mean they are secure from injury just that they have mechanically figured out how to get it done faster, which we know is not always better.
I assessed a neighbor yesterday (she is teaching my wife to play piano) and she has a HX of Right sided Lower back Pain. With symptoms of 'popping' in the lower back and calf/foot numbness we have a problem. Now, this very smart lady has been to chiropractors, oriental medicine physicians, pilates instructors, massage therapists and her sister is a Physical Therapist. Do you think anyone picked up on her underlying issue? NO. I took her through the same tests in the 'Fit Responder' book plus a few ortho. tests and guess what? Pelvis is weak, and her spinal SEGMENTAL STABILIZERS are non existent. She shows signs of degenerative joint/disk and spinal instability. With really strong gross motor muscles(abs/obliques/quads/hip flexors)from years of pilates and yoga and a total inability to find and maintain NEUTRAL SPINE she has lost the ability to stabilize her spine = pain and popping. I put her into a standing neutral spine position with a slight hip hinge and she was totally pain free (it's in the book). When she gets back from the spine doctor I sent her to and we know exactly what her spine looks like I will help get her back to many of the activities she enjoys, pain free. All this took less than 45 min. to assess and teach some corrective exercises.
If I could go this far that quickly with such a level of accuracy why are we not doing this stuff on a departmental or clinical level on each person? Am I the only one that can see how much time/money will be saved by finding it and fixing it before it's broken?
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