Corrective exercise training

Movement is the means by which we are able to perform all activities, ranging from those necessary for daily living to job tasks and recreational enjoyment. Our ability to move is one of the most important aspects of our existence. Recognizing optimum movement requires a thorough understanding and application of Human Movement Science, specifically, functional anatomy, kinesiology, biomechanics, physiology, and motor control. Understanding normal movement allows identification of abnormal movement which can indicate possible muscle imbalances and corrective strategies.

Movement represents the integrated functioning of many systems within the human body, primarily the muscular, articular, and nervous systems. These systems form an interdependent triad which, when operating correctly, allows for optimum structural alignment, neuromuscular control (coordination), and movement. Each of these outcomes is important to establishing normal length-tension relationships, which ensure proper length and strength of each muscle around a joint. This is known as muscle balance.

Muscle balance is essential for optimal recruitment of force-couples to maintain precise joint motion and ultimately decrease excessive stress placed on the body. All of this translates into the efficient transfer of forces to accelerate, decelerate, and stabilize the interconnected joints of the body, and is the source of the term kinetic chain is derived. “Kinetic” denotes the force transference from the nervous system to the muscular and articular systems as well as from joint to joint, while “chain” refers to the interconnected linkage of all joints in the body. Essentially, the kinetic chain can also be considered the Human Movement System.

However, for many reasons such as repetitive stress, impact trauma, disease and, sedentary lifestyle, dysfunction can occur in one or more of these systems. When this happens, muscle balance, muscle recruitment, and joint motion are altered leading to changes in structural alignment, neuromuscular control (coordination), and movement patterns of the human movement system. The result is a human movement system impairment and, ultimately injury.

Any muscle, whether in a shortened or lengthened state, can be underactive or weak. Underactive muscles exhibit less than optimal force production capabilities. This results in an altered recruitment strategy and ultimately an altered movement pattern. Alterations in muscle activity will change the biomechanical motion of the joint and lead to increased stress on the tissues of the joint, and eventual injury. A movement assessment allows to observe human movement system impairments including muscle imbalances (length and strength deficits), and altered recruitment strategies. This information can then be correlated to subjective findings and isolated assessments such as goniometric and manual muscle testing. Collectively, this data will produce a more comprehensive representation of the client or patient.