Blog

The human body perceives stress as a cumulative load—whether physical, mental, or emotional. This can lead to an overactive sympathetic nervous system, leaving the body in a constant “wound-up” state. While short-term stress is manageable, chronic stress can keep the body in a heightened state of activity, resulting in accelerated heart rates, hormonal imbalances, and a host of other issues. In this state, the body is essentially in overdrive, making it difficult to recover from injuries and adapt to physical therapy.

Possessing a variety of ways to move is essential to avoid injury and remain healthy. However many sports and activities force people to move primarily in one specific manner. If we cannot change the sport or activity how do we prevent injury?

“I just need you to dig into this spot, right here.” “This needs to pop, then I’ll feel better.” “It just needs a good stretch.” Have you ever thought to ask yourself why this may be the case?

It’s important to recognize that a certain level of stiffness is not only acceptable but often beneficial, particularly for athletes. This natural stiffness allows athletes to be more elastic, enabling them to generate maximum power with minimal effort. This quality often distinguishes elite athletes from the average person and is something both coaches and clinicians should be mindful of.

Most clinicians and coaches understand the importance of achieving and maintaining an optimal spine position during exercise and daily life. Appropriate lumbo-pelvic posturing is often the initial focus towards correction however this will often take care of itself (or make correction much easier) when optimal cervical spine posture is achieved. Many rest in upper cervical extension and lower cervical flexion, manifesting as the typical forward head posture often seen. This results in a lack of joint centration or stability throughout the cervical spine, leading to overactive upper cervical extensors/scalenes and sternocleidomastoids, while the intrinsic stabilizers are inhibited, most notably the deep neck flexors.

“My hamstrings are tight.”
This is something clinicians and coaches constantly hear in reference to a variety of muscle groups or areas of the body. Often times the individual with this complaint is scrawny and deconditioned, with little reason for feeling this way.