It seems a lot, if not most, people use assumption in our industry.

Why are articles also often written based on assumptions?

Also why do a few of the people who read <a href="https://www.www.biomechanicseducation.com/blog/">MY articles</a> make assumptions about what I am actually saying, even when I've clearly stated the example specifics for clarity of explanation?

SO WHAT?

Well within <a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com">our courses</a> we discuss the idea that the body is a master of compensation and it does so for a variety of reasons AND in a variety of ways.

We use words like to desire the compensations like;

Sub-clinical Muscle Spasm

Immobility

Tightness

Inhibition

Instability

Weakness

Now MOST professionals know how to address the above with these interventions;

Release/ anti spasm

Mobilise

Stretch

Un-inhibit

Stabilise

Strengthen

These are all techniques that are all relatively simple to do and understand right?

So what's the problem?

What is it that makes these interventions so controversial, problematic and debatable in, not only articles, but also in practice?

Why are many still making the error of assumption?

Well its pretty tough to truly objectively KNOW which of the above problems is present.

In other words …..

is ‘it’ WEAK or INHIBITED?

is ‘it’ TIGHT or IN SPASM?

is ‘it’ UNSTABLE or WEAK?

is ‘it’ INHIBITED or TIGHT?

Each of these examples can easily be mistaken for another and yet the corrective techniques could be contraindicating should the wrong one be prescribed. For example if you try to stretch a muscle ASSUMING it os TIGHT but in fact it is inhibited or in spasm as a protective mechanism, it could react by ‘holding on’ even more.

A common issue might be the appearance of ‘tight’ hamstrings that are ‘held’ short so to speak. Quite often the sciatic nerve can be ‘tethered’ by dysfunction somewhere else, this creates nerve tension therefore the hamstrings ‘hold on’ to a shorter position, due to their close relationship with the sciatic nerve, to protect the nerve which is lacking its full capacity.

Now consider if you tried to 'stretch' this apparently ‘tight’ hamstring..!

So what should we do??

Obviously <a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com">screening</a> helps but even then the screen may identify there is a problem but not which one exactly as they can ‘appear’ the same.

So possibly all we are left with is to prescribe the safest, or least contraindicating, technique first to reduce risk.

Using the lowest grade methods is surely the wisest move, don't you think?

In the same way a therapist might release or rub the antagonist to the injured muscle to more safely influence a damaged agonist we could consider similar concepts for clearing dysfunctions.

Blood flow is key and can still be encouraged through very subtle means or even more aggressive methods.

An example of a subtle intervention might be a l<a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com">ow grade 20% muscle</a> release technique (Ribot-Ciscar,1991) whereas something like stretching might be seen as more aggressive by comparison.

So surely it makes sense to START with the subtlest option?

What are you thoughts?

Also let me know your thoughts on the concept of maintenance and developmental stretching as taught on personal training courses verses other methods of improving muscle function?

EMAIL ME rachel@biomechanicseducation.com