Holistic Injury Resolution

[franks]

Anyone out there ever notice how sometimes one injury is caused by another?

I've been wondering about how imbalances contribute to the occurene of injury in the amateur athlete/trainer and how these could be alleviated. I don't think just approaching the one problem will solve it.

For instance, one of my Scapula pops 'out' further than the other one while doing bent over DB rows. Is it the scapula though? I doubt it - Because if I'm careful about my form and have my GF watch during deadlifts, I don't move from the exact center during the lift. So does that imply a hip mobility imbalance? BUT what about the feet? Suppose one calf is more flexible than the other, then what? Which part contributes to which injury and which one will make the biggest impact on correcting all of the imbalances?

And then of course, what brings it about? Sedentary lifestyles are pretty much the matter-of-fact for a lot of us for about 8 hours a day or so. In my case, as a musician I have one leg at a different height from the other for anywhere between 200-360 minutes a day. Assumably doing this for years and years is going to result in one side not doing the same thing as the other at all times.

What is the solution then? Don't say to spend 200-360 minutes with my other leg at that height to compensate!! I'm sure some of it can be corrected by adjusting posture over time, but even ones perception of weight distribution could be affected by such imbalances. Does anyone see what I'm trying to get at?

I think a lot of people out there probably deal with similar problems, and I'm curious to see what the interested and knowledgable have to say about it.

-Adam

[Bill Hartman]

What are imbalances? Is anyone really balanced? The question is when to chronic adaptations become dysfunctional. That's another tough question because what you see during static or even controlled dynamic situations does not necessarily occur at typical sport or daily activity speeds.

Even when you "correct" the imbalance, there's no guarantee that performance will improve. You have to look at limiting factors.

Even the best athletes in the world function with asymmetries and perceived "imbalances".

That being said...Flexibility differences will create compensatory movements. For lower extremity flexibility assessments, squatting and deadlifting are really good tools to identify potential issues.

Prolonged acute hip flexion activities such as desk work, school, cycling, etc. can cause the dropping of sarcomeres from the muscles effectively shortening them. If it only occurs on one side, you'll have compensatory adjustments in posture radiating outward from your center throughout your kinetic chain. One leg will appear longer than the other and you may demonstrate an adaptive scoliosis. This will cause compensations at the shoulder girdle, head posture, etc. as well.

Overtime, your shorter muscles may have trouble producing force. This may explain your lifting assymetries and the scapular winging.

You need a postural/orthopedic assessment to determine your needs BUT

Here's a guess...

Look for proximal issues first.

Start with stretching you hip flexors on the side of your body that you typically have up for extended periods of time. Use a combination of active and passive methods to accelerate progress. Dynamic lunges, isometric lunges (one of my favorites), and all variations of static stretches.

On the winging scapula side, subscapularis may be tight and weak as well as serratus anterior. If your shoulder girdle protracts, pec minor may also be an issue for being tight and weak.

Address these issues for about 2 months intensively and see what changes.

If you can, get an assessment from someone who can identify postural issues and do functional muscle testing.

Oh, and try to retrain your habits to be more symmetrical...alternate up legs and correct your shoulder girdle posture every time you look at a clock.

Keep us posted.

Bill Hartman, Level 203 H.A.R.T.M.A.N. certified

P.S. Depending on development of scar tissue, adhesions, etc. you may need some soft-tissue work to correct and problems.