Muscle Imbalance and Chronic Injuries
Injuries can occur everyplace and at anytime, but the most prevalent place of occurrence is in the workplace. The reason for such a high rate of injury is that people spend 8-18 hours a day, 5-7 days a week performing unidirectional (one-way) movement patterns, causing an imbalance in the musculoskeletal system that consequences in the eat too much and under use of certain muscle groups. If left unchecked, these injuries can be come recurring, ensuing in pain and dysfunction that can last for years.
Usually, when one muscle group is overused, the hostile muscle group, acting as a preservative, becomes underused. When this imbalance establishes itself in the musculoskeletal system, the body does not function as designed. As a replacement for of muscles working together to go a individual function, they work against each other, causing the body to exert more energy to go the same task that earlier was perceived by the body as “simple”.
When muscles become too small and tight, they lose their might as they are in a recurring semi-contracted state and cannot contract (shorten) efficiently due to being pre-wiped out and the fact that they are already in a state where they are too small for proper function. If a muscle is already in a shortened, semi-contracted state, it cannot contract, or shorten very far. And the out of a muscle can contract (shorten) and go, the superior the might and endurance the muscle will have. Chronically tight, restrictive muscles just don’t function very well and they impinge structures around and beneath them such as nerves and blood vessels, causing disorders like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome and many other associated Repetitive Strain injuries. Small muscles also pull bones out of alignment, which causes a joint imbalance, often ensuing in severe pain and dysfunction.
The same goes for underused muscles. Underdeveloped muscles are weak due to lack of direct stimulation. Weak muscles are usually too long, unless they are in a state of spasm, which occurs as a shielding response in order to keep from being overstretched. Weak underdeveloped muscles cannot act as well-organized stabilizers when the hostile muscle(s) are called into action, which again causes a joint imbalance to develop, as weak muscles cannot stabilize bones in their proper position / alignment. Weather a muscle is small and tight or long and weak, the might and length imbalance of the unnatural muscle(s) must be corrected for the body to function optimally lacking pain, dysfunction and cut-rate mobility of the caught up muscles / joints.
Muscle imbalances are the cause of most biomechanical disorders in the body. From Carpal Tunnel Syndrome to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, an unfilled muscle imbalance is at the root cause of the disorder in 90% of the cases. Too many modalities focus on the “band-aid principal”, allowing the muscle imbalance go on for years with a small bit of relief here and there. Now is the time to focus on the actual “cause(s)” of these disorders and eliminate them when all's said and done. With the appropriate exercise and stretch routine, most musculoskeletal disorders can be eliminated quickly and effectively.
Correcting muscle imbalances is achieved owing to a administer consisting of a number of stretches and exercises. Soft-tissue treatment and hot/cold therapy may be utilized to help accelerate the rate of recovery if it is so desired. Usually the nature of performing both stretches and exercises within the same program can be quite effectual at eliminating the unfilled condition lacking the addition of the soft tissue treatment and hydrotherapy. Word of caution; there is a treatment sequence to addressing muscle imbalances if the best consequences are to be achieved. If random stretches and exercises are performed, an individual may cause themselves more harm than excellent.
A general rule when addressing a recurring muscle imbalance is to carry out the following program:
1. Heat Therapy* : Use heating-pad 5 Min. to warm the unnatural joint and surrounding muscles, preparing them for upcoming stretches and exercises. (Be sure that all sides of the joint and surrounding muscles are warmed-up.)
2. Soft-Tissue Treatment*: Soft tissue treatment utilizing Effleurage and Trigger Point Therapy to reduce muscle spasm and relax the tight, restrictive overused muscles can be very effectual in correcting muscle imbalances. Utilizing Oblique Friction Rub (TFM) on specifically weak, injured muscles and/or tendons to break down adhesions on the soft tissues can also be very effectual in reducing overall pain and dysfunction.) Performing basic rub to the tight muscles is the simplest way to address the issue lacking getting too complex.)
3. Stretching Routine: Once the muscles are warmed up, stretching the tight, restrictive muscle group is key to increasing their length and reducing their impingement of surrounding tissues as well as reducing their effect on the misalignment of the joint. (Stretching the weak, underdeveloped muscles is not recommended as they are already too long and do not need to be prolonged further.)
4. Exercise Routine: Once the tight restrictive muscles have been prolonged from the stretches, it is time to exercise the hostile muscle group, the one that is weak and underdeveloped, in order to shorten and strengthen the muscles in order to reduce the tensile stresses imposed on them from the hostile tight muscle group. Exercising and strengthening the weak underdeveloped muscles not only forces the hostile muscle group to relax and lengthen further, but it also helps to maintain the length made in those muscles from the previous stretches. (Do not go stretches after the exercises as this misaligns the joints and causes muscle rebounding. Always go stretches first when addressing recurring muscle imbalances and then at once follow with exercises.)
5. Draw a distinction Bath*: Utilizing a draw a distinction bath at the end of the complete routine can be caring in reducing muscle spasm, remove toxins from the muscles and increase passage and overall nutrient flow to the injury, helping to aid an increase the speed of recovery. Basic course of action is 3-synopsis heat to 1-minute of cold. Repeat 3-times, dying with cold.
This general treatment program for recurring repetitive strain injuries ensuing from muscle imbalances is very effectual and often eliminates all of the symptoms earlier associated with the injury, quickly and effectively. Always consult a physician before beginning any type of exercise or treatment program.
Dredge up, Your Health is in Your Hands!
Jeff P. Anliker is a Therapist and Inventor of Flextend, Flextend-AC, Flextend-TFT and other therapeutic products that are utilized by Corporations, Patrons and Health check Conveniences around the world for the prevention, remedy and routine enhancement. repetitive-strain.com
Author: Jeff Anliker
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Pressure cooker
