A bit of food for thought on flexibility. Instead of trying to stretch something that feels like it should be longer, WHY and WHAT has caused this state?

SPREAD THE LOAD THROUGH YOUR JOINTs

When we move in perfect symmetry our stabilising muscles spread the load around our spine and our joints allowing our mobilisers to move us as we choose. But when life has us sitting for hours on end, as it does for many, we lose that lovely symmetrical movement in our joints, stabilising muscles switch off and muscles that were never designed to do that particular job are called into play. They do it – but they don’t do it very well, not only that, they pull on the joint but not in a way that allows that joint to move correctly. A result of that could be wear and tear on the joint – result PAIN.

So instead of thinking I need to stretch this bit, consider what is happening in your movement patterns that means this particular muscle is working FAR harder than it should be. What is going on in your kinetic chain – that’s the movement way of saying your ankles connecting to your shin bones, your shin bones are connected to your knee bone, your knee bone is connected to your thigh bones – so what is happening at the JOINT level?

CAN YOU GIVE ME A STRETCH FOR MY HAMMIES?

Runners often say “can you give me a stretch for my hammies, its always really tight after a long run” Or “I can run 5 miles no problem, but if I try for 8 or 10 miles I’m in pain for days”

So the first example means that something is going on at the foot or the ankle or the knee..probably all three. So movements happening as the foot strikes, rolls through and off again is putting strain through those joints and the area that feels it the most is the hamstring after the run, it’s had to work really hard – harder than the other hamstring muscles or the same on the other leg, because something in that stride pattern is putting it under more load than the rest.

The second example is similar in that the body is able to cope with the demands of a 5 mile run, it’s probably not that happy but for the moment you are getting away with it. BUT you try and push it more than 5 miles, it’s just going to say ‘you know what sunshine, I’m not going to put up with this any more so just stop right now’ So instead of sticking with the lesser mileage, know that something is going on right now and get it sorted before you can’t run even 1 mile without problems.

PAIN IS A WARNING

This goes for most joints in the body. We all feel bits of pain here and there, pain is a warning and we are pretty good at ignoring the signals when its mild. Even with back pain.

Our body is also really good at keeping us moving, it WILL find a way to move a joint regardless of how efficient that movement really is. But sadly all that’s happening is that lovely smooth joint, full of luscious juicy synovial fluid and cartilage all around to protect it gets worn away because the pull on it from the wrong muscles trying to do the job of moving that joint. Speak to someone with bone on bone knee or hip joints, they will struggle to get upstairs its SO painful.

Just pulling on a muscle might feel ok for a bit, but its only temporary. It won’t know to stay that way.

Our Pilates classes are looking at movement patterns all the time, plus posture and alignment. We are trying to educate all our clients to be fully aware of their movements and checking in with their body and joints to do the best they can.

In a good Pilates class you are not only lengthening muscles you are doing it whilst using your core stabilising muscles, you are looking at your movement/alignment and building on core control all at the same time. That way your body learns these new positions and in time it becomes your body’s normal!

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY NOT YOUR MUSIC WHEN WORKING OUT

So leave your earbuds and Metallica/Barry Manilow at home and tune into your body not your music when you are exercising. Your body will thank you for it.

We run workshops on specific areas that might help if this all sounds a bit familiar. Join our mailing list and get notification of anything we have coming up that you could find helpful to keeping you fit and heathy and doing the things you like to do. Or get in touch and tell us what you need help with right now.