Showing posts with label muscle imbalances. Show all posts
Showing posts with label muscle imbalances. Show all posts

10/22/2020

How can running be good for your knees?

New research reported in the NY Times shows that running can actually be GOOD for your knees. In my experience, most runners experience knee pain and problems as a consequence of any of these three factors listed below. If you experience this type of pain, address these issues before they turn into a bigger problem.

Faulty alignment or movement patterns - The most common issues are feet that turn out and knees that move inward (knock knees). Your body is designed to optimally absorb the impact of running when your joints are properly aligned. If they aren’t, you will cause undue wear and damage over time. If you sit for long periods of time, I’ve got the corrective exercises and stretches to undo muscle imbalances that this causes at prehabpostrehab.com.

Bad shoes - shoes need to be replaced every 3-4 months or 300-400 miles because the midsole loses cushioning. If you buy last season’s shoes at a discount store or website, the clock has been running on them, the midsole has started to dry and lose cushioning. Another factor is whether the shoe provides the right level of stability for you. Do you need a neutral shoe, a stable shoe, a motion control shoe? A knowledgeable salesperson or trainer can help guide you to the right shoe.

Prior injuries - This includes impact injuries, sprains, strains, twists, and the cumulative impact of the above. If you’ve had physical therapy, you probably need to continue some version of the program to prevent reinjury.

Contact me if you need more help, and visit TrainerCary.com for more information.

5/22/2008

Muscle Imbalances: Which to Stretch? Which to Strengthen?

By Cary Raffle
Almost everyone has muscle imbalances. A few simple observations and movement tests tell a fitness professional which muscles are tight or overactive and need stretching and which are extended or underactive and need stretching (these are included in your fitness assessment). Below are a few of the more common observations and indicated stretches and strengthening recommendations to give you an example.

Observation
Shortened Muscles to Stretch
Extended Muscles to Strengthen
Feet turn out, shin splints, pain on bottom of foot (plantar fascitis), Achilles tendonitis*
Calves, Quadriceps, IT Band/TFL

Anterior Tibialis (shin), Gluteals, Medial Hamstrings
Shoulders round, soreness in mid/upper back, forward head
Chest, front of Shoulder, Lats, Neck, Upper Traps
Middle and Lower Traps and Rhomboids
Excessive forward lean at hip
Hip flexors and Quadriceps
Gluteals, Hamstrings, Abdominal Core

*Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasicitis are medical conditions, you should consult a doctor for diagnosis and possible treatment.
Once you understand which muscles are shortened and which are extended, be sure to adapt your program accordingly. If your calves are tight, you probably don't want to work them too hard until you complete several weeks of stretching. If your hamstrings are extended, you probably do not want to keep stretching them and extend them even more. Overstretched muscles can also be uncomfortable, they tend to have a low level or soreness that some people mistakenly believe is a call for stretching.

Fitness Articles for You