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