| Injuries can occur anywhere and at anytime, | | | | nature of performing both stretches and |
| but the most prevalent place of occurrence is | | | | exercises within the same program can be |
| in the workplace. The reason for such a high | | | | quite effective at eliminating the existing |
| rate of injury is that people spend 8-18 | | | | condition without the addition of the soft |
| hours a day, 5-7 days a week performing | | | | tissue treatment and hydrotherapy. Word of |
| unidirectional (one-way) movement patterns, | | | | caution; there is a treatment sequence to |
| causing an imbalance in the musculoskeletal | | | | addressing muscle imbalances if the best |
| system that results in the overuse and under | | | | results are to be achieved. If random |
| use of certain muscle groups. If left | | | | stretches and exercises are performed, an |
| unchecked, these injuries can be come | | | | individual may cause themselves more harm |
| chronic, resulting in pain and dysfunction | | | | than good. |
| that can last for years. | | | | |
| | | | A general rule when addressing a chronic |
| Usually, when one muscle group is overused, | | | | muscle imbalance is to execute the following |
| the opposing muscle group, acting as a | | | | program: |
| stabilizer, becomes underused. When this | | | | |
| imbalance establishes itself in the | | | | 1. Heat Therapy* : Use heating-pad 5 Min. to |
| musculoskeletal system, the body does not | | | | warm the affected joint and surrounding |
| function as designed. Instead of muscles | | | | muscles, preparing them for upcoming |
| working together to perform a specified | | | | stretches and exercises. (Be sure that all |
| function, they work against each other, | | | | sides of the joint and surrounding muscles |
| causing the body to exert more energy to | | | | are warmed-up.) |
| perform the same task that previously was | | | | |
| perceived by the body as ?simple?. | | | | 2. Soft-Tissue Treatment*: Soft tissue |
| | | | treatment utilizing Effleurage and Trigger |
| When muscles become too short and tight, they | | | | Point Therapy to reduce muscle spasm and |
| lose their strength as they are in a chronic | | | | relax the tight, restrictive overused muscles |
| semi-contracted state and cannot contract | | | | can be very effective in correcting muscle |
| (shorten) efficiently due to being | | | | imbalances. Utilizing Transverse Friction |
| pre-fatigued and the fact that they are | | | | Massage (TFM) on specifically weak, injured |
| already in a state where they are too short | | | | muscles and/or tendons to break down |
| for proper function. If a muscle is already | | | | adhesions on the soft tissues can also be |
| in a shortened, semi-contracted state, it | | | | very effective in reducing overall pain and |
| cannot contract, or shorten very far. And the | | | | dysfunction.) Performing basic massage to the |
| farther a muscle can contract (shorten) and | | | | tight muscles is the easiest way to address |
| move, the greater the strength and endurance | | | | the issue without getting too complex.) |
| the muscle will have. Chronically tight, | | | | |
| restrictive muscles just don?t function very | | | | 3. Stretching Routine: Once the muscles are |
| well and they impinge structures around and | | | | warmed up, stretching the tight, restrictive |
| beneath them such as nerves and blood | | | | muscle group is key to increasing their |
| vessels, causing disorders like Carpal Tunnel | | | | length and reducing their impingement of |
| Syndrome, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome and many | | | | surrounding tissues as well as reducing their |
| other associated Repetitive Strain injuries. | | | | effect on the misalignment of the joint. |
| Short muscles also pull bones out of | | | | (Stretching the weak, underdeveloped muscles |
| alignment, which causes a joint imbalance, | | | | is not recommended as they are already too |
| often resulting in severe pain and | | | | long and do not need to be lengthened |
| dysfunction. | | | | further.) |
| | | | |
| The same goes for underused muscles. | | | | 4. Exercise Routine: Once the tight |
| Underdeveloped muscles are weak due to lack | | | | restrictive muscles have been lengthened from |
| of direct stimulation. Weak muscles are | | | | the stretches, it is time to exercise the |
| usually too long, unless they are in a state | | | | opposing muscle group, the one that is weak |
| of spasm, which occurs as a protective | | | | and underdeveloped, in order to shorten and |
| response in order to keep from being | | | | strengthen the muscles in order to reduce the |
| overstretched. Weak underdeveloped muscles | | | | tensile stresses imposed on them from the |
| cannot act as efficient stabilizers when the | | | | opposing tight muscle group. Exercising and |
| opposing muscle(s) are called into action, | | | | strengthening the weak underdeveloped muscles |
| which again causes a joint imbalance to | | | | not only forces the opposing muscle group to |
| develop, as weak muscles cannot stabilize | | | | relax and lengthen further, but it also helps |
| bones in their proper position / alignment. | | | | to maintain the length created in those |
| Weather a muscle is short and tight or long | | | | muscles from the previous stretches. (Do not |
| and weak, the strength and length imbalance | | | | perform stretches after the exercises as this |
| of the affected muscle(s) must be corrected | | | | misaligns the joints and causes muscle |
| for the body to function optimally without | | | | rebounding. Always perform stretches first |
| pain, dysfunction and reduced mobility of the | | | | when addressing chronic muscle imbalances and |
| involved muscles / joints. | | | | then immediately follow with exercises.) |
| | | | |
| Muscle imbalances are the cause of most | | | | 5. Contrast Bath*: Utilizing a contrast bath |
| biomechanical disorders in the body. From | | | | at the end of the complete routine can be |
| Carpal Tunnel Syndrome to Thoracic Outlet | | | | helpful in reducing muscle spasm, remove |
| Syndrome, an existing muscle imbalance is at | | | | toxins from the muscles and increase |
| the root cause of the disorder in 90% of the | | | | circulation and overall nutrient flow to the |
| cases. Too many modalities focus on the | | | | injury, helping to aid an increase the speed |
| ?band-aid principal?, allowing the muscle | | | | of recovery. Basic procedure is 3-minutes |
| imbalance go on for years with a little bit | | | | heat to 1-minute of cold. Repeat 3-times, |
| of relief here and there. Now is the time to | | | | finishing with cold. |
| focus on the actual ?cause(s)? of these | | | | |
| disorders and eliminate them altogether. With | | | | This general treatment program for chronic |
| the appropriate exercise and stretch routine, | | | | repetitive strain injuries resulting from |
| most musculoskeletal disorders can be | | | | muscle imbalances is very effective and often |
| eliminated quickly and effectively. | | | | eliminates all of the symptoms previously |
| | | | associated with the injury, quickly and |
| Correcting muscle imbalances is achieved | | | | effectively. Always consult a physician |
| through a process consisting of a number of | | | | before beginning any type of exercise or |
| stretches and exercises. Soft-tissue | | | | treatment program. |
| treatment and hot/cold therapy may be | | | | |
| utilized to help expedite the rate of | | | | Remember, Your Health is in Your Hands! |
| recovery if it is so desired. Usually the | | | | |