Look at the clock mechanism above. We all know how precise each interaction of the cogs, pulleys, levers and springs needs to be.
Now, imagine if one of these got bent, unhinged or a cog
lost a tooth. Not enough to stop the clock, just enough to throw it out slightly.
This would create pressure elsewhere and I bet a clock maker would see where other parts have worn out and reduced efficiency.
Our bodies are the same.
A tight or inflamed muscle, tendon or
misshapen bone WILL cause an imbalance further up the chain.
Often the site of a niggle or twinge is not where the problem is. It is where the stress from an issue elsewhere manifests itself.
Often the answer to an issue isn't found by going after the site of the pain itself.
It is the wrong question in the first
place!
The question should be WHY is an area tight and what is it caused by:
- tight hamstrings?: stretching these may give some respite although WHY are they tight? Could they be trying to pull your pelvis back all day long due to weak abdominal muscles..to try and rebalance a poor posture for your lower back? Often this is the
case.
- shoulder blades niggly after time sitting?: the muscles in your upper back and between your shoulder blades are having to work REALLY hard to pull you back into a good thoracic (upper back) position all day long. Massages will ease these muscles however, NOT strengthening these and getting back to the desk and chair will take you back to where you were
again, pretty quickly!
- knee pain?: weak calves, poor footwear, unbalanced training (too much running and no strength training for instance) will transfer stress UP or DOWN the body.
We will always have the same pains, twinges, niggles and sore bits if we STAY WHERE WE
ARE when it comes to movement, positions we spend the day in and unaddressed muscle imbalances.
- mobilise all your joints everyday
- strength train, either with weights or bodyweight in a balanced way
- if things hurt for more than a few weeks, see a health
professional
- add in more movement and rarely sit still
- ditch the sofa and spend time on the floor with a foam roller
- walk, everywhere
- try to give your body more chances to support itself. Less chairs, more stairs, stand, lie, squat and so
on.
The good news is that any extra actions from the list above instantly changes your geometry and rebalances your body.
You don't need to fry your mind trying to work out exactly which muscle need training in a certain direction. The email a few days ago shows all the main movements and it is how we keep balanced with regards to
training.
When it comes to positions through the day, just take note of what position you have been in for the last 45 min, then move to the most opposite position from this you can for a bit.
Simply adding in a target to take all the joints of your body through some 360 degree rotations during EVERY day at some point can be a huge step
forward.
Your body has all it needs, it just needs you to give it a little nudge!
Keep that mechanism running smoothly!
J
