Can You Control Your Spine When Training?
There is often a big debate around whether one should be able to control their spine when performing exercises and some practitioners will argue that this is very important whereas others will say that it is not important at all. After all, we are humans who move in 3 planes of motion and rarely are we consciously thinking about what positions our body is in and how we are moving. Often we are more task based focus and success is often based on task achievement rather than whether we have moved correctly.
When it comes to dealing with clients with musculoskeletal injuries, often we will see our clients move with inefficient faulty movement patterns. In simplistic terms, I describe inefficient faulty movement patterns to my clients as movements that allow the client to still achieve the task, but are perhaps less safe or not as efficient for the individual and may result in aggravation or maintaining of their complaint. These patterns can be a result of pain behavioural changes or compensatory changes over time may also result in joint restrictions and soft tissue tightness throughout the body.
From my perspective I will often want to look at how a client moves in many positions and patterns. This can include rolling patterns, getting up and down off the floor, 4 point kneeling positions, lying on the back, split stance kneeling, single leg stance, squatting, stepping up and down, lunging, hinging, pushing and pulling.
For some clients I may focus on teaching movement patterns that may help with a reduction in ongoing aggravation of their complaint. For others the focus might be on prescribing movement that improves balance, mobility or stability.
In the videos below I have shown how I have incorporated a simple tool such as a stick to raise the individuals awareness to trunk positioning and control when performing peripheral limb movement. These exercises can be used in the early stages of a rehab or prehab program to teach control as well as having the individual work the core through stabilisation of the trunk and then adding peripheral limb movement.
This blog was written by osteopath Heath Williams of Principle Four Osteopathy.
Principle Four Osteopathy
Principle Four Osteopathy is one of Melbourne City CBD leading Osteopathy clinics. At the clinic we treat a wide range of clients, ranging from the office worker, exercise enthusiast to athlete. We have 3 experienced osteopaths working across both of the clinics.
The Melbourne City CBD clinic is located at 29 Somerset Place (basement), close to the corner of Elizabeth St and Little Bourke in the Melbourne City CBD. Our premises adjoin the Jon Weller Personal Training Studio, a fully-equipped training space which allows clients to combine their osteopathy treatment with exercise tutorials or specific training programs and rehabilitation.
The Docklands clinic is located at 717 Bourke St (Ground Floor), beneath the Channel 9 building near the walkway from Southern Cross Train Station to Etihad Stadium. Our premises adjoin Pilates on Bourke, a fully-equipped pilates and yoga training space which allows clients to combine their osteopathy treatment with exercise tutorials, pilates or specific training programs and rehabilitation.
To speak to an Osteopath or book an appointment at Principle Four Osteopathy, please book online or call 03 9670 9290.