<b>The Integrated System</b> has been not only discussed but also sung about since I was little. For example I knew the <i>thigh bone connected to the hip bone and hip bone connected to the back bone</i>… (you know the song)

But I didn’t appreciate it like I have since becoming a <a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/biomechanics-coach/">Specialist Biomechanics Coach™</a> and this is the one of the biggest differences between <a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/biomechanics-coach/">Biomechanics Coaches™</a> and other professionals. So while other professionals TALK about the body being an <b>Integrated System</b>, here I would like to explain exactly what that means to those in the <i>intrinsic biomechanics</i> world and why I believe others talk about it but don’t actually practice it, and why.

Generally we only seek help when we have a problem otherwise, <i>why would we pay for advice?</i> is the general attitude right. We service and MOT our cars regularly (by law in fact) and yet we can buy a new car!

What about our precious bodies?

Well when we have an injury or some pain we automatically go to the locally recommended therapist, osteopath, chiropractor, physio, sports therapist or even your GP to find out what the injury or pain is, since they are <i>clinically </i>trained and understand how to ‘treat’ the <i>site of pain</i> or injury. Commonly they will then advise you what to do, maybe give you some kind of manual therapy treatment to improve the symptoms at the site of the problem to reduce the effects of the injury and generally try to make you more comfortable.

So if you are injured from a <i>trauma</i> then it is advisable to seek these professionals services for it because when there is a pathology, this is probably the most sensible way to go.

Yet there are many more cases of ‘low grade’ aches, pains and niggles that are <i>insidious</i> and do not fit into this category. The low grade insidious aches and pains we experience from our daily lifestyles are NOT really ‘injuries’ as they don’t always fit into this category of pathological or clinical changes. However this leaves many professionals with a <i>subjective </i>view of where injury has come from; one cause could be from sitting at a desk all day, for example. Yet there are those who sit at a desk without problems, so if it were simply the act of sitting at a desk, would we not all experience exactly the same low grade aches and pains while sitting at our desks?

So while I agree that the act of sitting at a desk can contribute, ultimately it is the individuals <i>intrinsic biomechanics </i>(part of which is the neuro-musculoskeletal system) that compensates for being static for too long when we are designed to move, maybe like hunter gatherers.  This can then cause the body to ‘grumble’ at the fact we have just been sitting and not using those hip muscles for 8 hrs giving us muscle spasm which tethers nerves and stiffens joints or any variation of those dysfunctions. These issues may initiate without pain but over time become more uncomfortable.

<b>What happens if you gain mechanical compensations like this? </b>

Well, this can happen in any order, but the muscle spasm might pull on a joint abnormally causing the loading to change in a subtle way that over time irritates the tissues and eventually, over time, causing areas to ache a little. If left unaddressed these low grade aches can become much more painful and eventually can result in a what is often thought of as a secondary injury.

<b>How do we categorise injuries?</b>

Well, there are a few ways, but as <a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/biomechanics-coach/">Biomechanics Coaches™</a>, we like the work of Sahramann when she breaks them down into 2 sections.  One is the <b>PathoKinesiology Model.</b>  This is where the injury (or pathology) causes abnormal movement and this is then picked up on a movement screen as a protective movement pattern.  The other category is the <b>KinesioPathology </b>Model where the movement causes abnormal loading on structures and it is this that causes the pathology (injury).  In these cases any abnormal movements are really compensatory movements, rather than protective movement patterns.

So, when a movement coach screens a client to look at any abnormal movements, they can not be sure of whether they are looking at a protective or compensatory movement pattern and of course its essential to understand which it is.  If it’s a pathology causing the abnormal movement, then the pathology needs to be dealt with first, but if it’s the movement causing the pathology, it’s the movement that needs to be dealt with first.  Unfortunately from a movement screen, you don’t know which is which.

With an <b><i>intrinsic </i></b><i>biomechanical</i> screen, it doesn’t matter which came first, as all we are doing is providing the <b>capacity</b> for whatever ‘normal movement’ is for that client.  We are not directly trying to ‘artificially’ change the movement, we are merely providing the building blocks for whatever pattern suits that individual.  This approach truly understands The Integrated System and compliments all other movement specialists work, as we are helping the client to be able to perform the movement patterns as directed by them.  This enables them to provide their movement correction exercises with on more stable biomechanical platform.

So, do other professionals understand <a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/biomechanics-coach/">The Integrated System</a>?

Yes of course they do, but the <b><i>intrinsic </i></b><i>biomechanics</i> approach is unique and is very complimentary to other approaches.

But what do you think?