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