<h2><b>Introduction</b><b> </b></h2>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">If you use a search engine to look up the term </span><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/what-is-biomechanics/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">‘biomechanics’ </span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">most, if not all, of the information that pops up will be related to sports &amp; performance.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">However what we would like to highlight within this blog is how a better understanding of this science both </span><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/what-is-the-difference-between-extrinsic-biomechanics-intrinsic-biomechanics/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">extrinsically &amp; intrinsically</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> can help movement/exercise coaches &amp; trainers improve the overall health &amp; wellbeing of every single client.</span>

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<h2><b>What is health &amp; wellbeing?</b></h2>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The World Health Organisation constitution states:</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> "Health is a state of complete physical, mental &amp; social well-being &amp; not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." </span></i>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">To attempt to define health &amp; wellness/wellbeing is in itself an entire other blog. However here is a previous blog I wrote some years ago exploring the difference between health &amp; fitness<a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/health-vs-fitness-can-being-fit-stop-you-being-healthy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&gt;&gt;CLICK HERE TO READ</a></span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">For many it’s likely that health &amp; wellbeing is about the importance of looking after oneself to feel happy, asymptomatic, robust, capable &amp; purposeful. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">For this blog we will focus on predominantly the physical aspect of </span><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/what-is-biomechanics/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">biomechanics </span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">because the human body is such a wonderfully complex series of systems &amp; substructures. However we will also explore some case study examples to see how biomechanics can also impact upon the mindset or psychology of our clients. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">In very simplistic terms there are 3 key substructures that we rely on to enable us to move freely &amp; with less pain. The </span><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/product/pelvis-spine-biomechanics-3-day-workshop-entry-level-3/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">skeletal system</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a framework upon which the myofascial system attaches to &amp; then relies upon to act as levers &amp; pulleys. This is why we call it bio-’mechanics’ in reference to the mechanical comparison of forces, loads, levers, pulleys &amp; pivots in engineering for example. </span>

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<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Note: the biotensegrity model (Prof Steve Levit) challenged the ‘standard’ biomechanical model by proposing the human body is far more sophisticated in comparison to a machine. Biomechanics Education agrees but also believes in simplicity for comprehension &amp; application of human movement. So with this we teach practitioners a deeper level of understanding the 3 subsystems. This enables them to apply the skills of assessment &amp; movement using a simple biomechanical model but with the recognition of what is required to work with a complex human body AND a diverse range of clients &amp; bodies. (Rachel Frances Thomson)</span></i>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally the 3rd subsystem is the incredible nervous system. This is like the software of the entire body from the </span><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/understanding-nerves/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">central nervous system</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (CNS) that is the brain and </span><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/spine-mobility-project/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">spinal cord</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, to the peripheral nerves that continue within the torso &amp; limbs. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The nervous system sends messages through to the myofascial system about how much tone or effort to apply across a joint of the skeletal system. </span>

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<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Note: Karel Lewitt (1916-2014) described as the father of manual medicine, a Czech neurologist (Manipulative Therapy) suggested that we are born with a set of ‘genetic movement codes’, also that we gain conditioned movement codes as we develop, grow &amp; use our bodies. This means the variety of ways in which we use our bodies results in the formation of new codes of movement/s. So in fact the human body is a real master of compensation.</span></i>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Now biomechanically </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">conditioning</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> movement codes can be a good thing in terms of practising something to optimise performance or repeating a pattern to gain coordination or loading the body more to gain strength by developing the tissues tolerance to those loads. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">However these compensatory factors can be equally bad for our inner subsystems. Imagine what happens over time when we don't move in a certain way or use up certain joint ranges or don’t load certain body parts very much or at all. An example could be the modern ailments that can result from our overly comfortable or easier lifestyles as technology &amp; equipment innovations continue to develop &amp; attract attention. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Consider a client whose desk job means they almost only ever sit &amp; stand to &amp; from 90 degrees of hip flexion in the sagittal plane (front to back). Over time the tissues across their pelvis could lose their capacity &amp; their tolerance to loads beyond that range of motion &amp;/or in that plane of motion. </span>

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<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">So what?</span></h2>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Well add to that a sedentary lifestyle outside of work that could encourage further compensation. Driving a car, playing a racket sport &amp; carrying something heavy. We generally use the dominant arm, side or hand as it </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">feels better</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that way around. These asymmetries in themselves aren't necessarily detrimental however over time they can encourage the body to adapt tissue tolerance asymmetrically &amp; lose capacity for alternative movements, ranges &amp; loads.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Since gravity always pulls us down towards earth the more ‘off centre’ we are stacked up the more this could encourage tissue adaptation to those asymmetries. We certainly don't need perfect symmetry but a good balance of coordination, strength &amp; loading encourages healthier biomechanical body &amp; performance. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Now the more </span><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/understanding-the-importance-of-intrinsic-biomechanical-principles/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">intrinsic biomechanical</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> problems there are combined with </span><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/what-is-the-difference-between-extrinsic-biomechanics-intrinsic-biomechanics/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">extrinsic problems</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> this increases the risk estimation. The ‘systems’ are likely to start to complain, giving warning signals through the nociceptors (danger receptors or pain signals) by way of an ache or niggle. This is the genius of our fabulous bodies, it TELLS us to change something!</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">So let’s explore some specific examples of how understanding intrinsic biomechanics can really contribute to improved health &amp; wellbeing. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">As we consider our first case study example here we can assume the loading or conditioned movement coding on their bodies has been over at least 60+ years. </span>

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<h2><b>Example 1: Older adults </b></h2>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Older adults (in this definition 60+yrs) generally want to maintain mobility in their joints to be able to balance &amp; remain confident &amp; independent in their movement. It has been suggested that physiologically our bodies decline naturally around 2% per decade however some will decline quicker than others depending upon their genetics, lifestyle choices along with diet &amp; the robustness of their </span><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/product/intrinsic-biomechanics-taster/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">intrinsic biomechanics.</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">This demographic appreciate moving freely as their joints begin to age &amp; stiffen naturally. So pure low range joint mobility like those taught in the </span><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/imovefreely-3/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">iMoveFreely programme</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are perfect for them. Then the low level muscle energy techniques that are isometric (static 20% effort contractions that require no dynamic movement) are extremely safe &amp; effective for improving muscle function while not stressing the joints with lots of repetitions. Also combining them with the slow &amp; controlled nerve mobilisations make the intrinsic biomechanical model a safe prehabilitation programme for this demographic's health &amp; wellbeing.</span>

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<h2><b>Example 2</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: </span><b>Individuals with chronic, persistent or long term conditions</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></h2>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Movement offers our bodies some really great benefits for protection as well as to stay healthy.  For the prevention &amp; management of a long term condition or comorbidities (more than one long term condition) like diabetes, obesity, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) vascular (circulatory) disease, cancer, clinical depression, stroke, asthma, arthritis to list some of those listed on the NHS website, we can use movement to unburden the NHS.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">By gaining high quality education in how these conditions may impact upon an individual's movement (amongst other things) we could also deepen our understanding of their intrinsic biomechanics to bring back some quality of life while empowering these clients to self manage with the </span><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/imovefreely-3/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">iMoveFreely programme</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This bespoke programme doesn't demand they join a gym, nor do they need to have any specific equipment necessarily &amp; it could be deemed a no sweat ‘workout’ since it's about ‘pre-habilitating’ or preparation for movement &amp; in some cases works as post rehabilitation. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">While clinicians &amp; NHS staff are vital in the treatment &amp; management of these types of conditions, exercise &amp; movement interventions more often than not are the best long term solution for a variety of reasons. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Practitioners that specialise in exercise like </span><a href="https://www.futurefit.co.uk/personal-training-courses/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">personal trainers</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, fitness instructors &amp; </span><a href="https://www.futurefit.co.uk/strength-conditioning-courses/level-3-strength-conditioning/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">strength coaches</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> who understand specifically the application of intrinsic biomechanics, behaviour change, motivational interviewing &amp; have a qualification for working with individuals with long term conditions are the perfect referral point for a movement programme.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><img class="size-medium wp-image-34557 aligncenter" src="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/shutterstock_515526265-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The key requirements within referral networks are qualified individuals who understand the body really well, are able to confidently communicate with a multidisciplinary team &amp; have a clear understanding of boundaries. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">But also over &amp; above all of this is the ability to assess, evaluate, monitor &amp; review each clients progress using screens &amp; assessments to prove success (or otherwise) that the appropriate intervention is being utilised. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Having an evidence based intrinsic biomechanics screening system that is reproducible by all trained practitioners, like the </span><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/what-is-a-biomechanics-coach/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Biomechanics Coach</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> skill set, is really quite unique. The iMoveFreely programme is extremely empowering to individuals who are unlikely to join a gym facility since they can be done at home or at work for example. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This coincides with the ability for practitioners to implement behaviour change skills into their practise, especially those who understand the impact of applying a biomechanical understanding into their programme writing.</span>

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<h2><b>Example 3: Athletes</b></h2>
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<a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/what-is-the-difference-between-extrinsic-biomechanics-intrinsic-biomechanics/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Extrinsic biomechanics</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is possibly the most widely used application of the science of biomechanics. Using expensive video analysis equipment practitioners would calculate pretty complicated mathematical data to improve sports performance. They would interpret the best joint angles, timing, positioning of the body etc for that sport or specific movement. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">However it’s extremely important that these practitioners are also trained in understanding intrinsic biomechanics &amp; how the 3 subsystems impact upon what they’re looking at on a video for example. </span>

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<img class="size-medium wp-image-34556 aligncenter" src="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/shutterstock_375191113-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">For true health &amp; wellbeing of our athletes simply trying to correct movements to be more aesthetically pleasing may not compliment the individuals natural genetic make up.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">An example would be a normal pelvic variation like a femoral anteversion or coxa vara. This is when an individual is born with a more medially rotated femur at the hip socket &amp;/or a particularly small angle between the neck &amp; shaft of the femur. Both variations may result in a knee valgus presentation or ‘knock knees’.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">If we simply analyse this athlete extrinsically we may want to encourage them to push their knees out to ‘look’ better. Yet biomechanically their intrinsics are stacked up that way &amp; we may in fact invite a problem. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">So understanding intrinsic biomechanics could be described as the best approach for risk reduction &amp; performance optimisation based on the bespoke nature of the assessments allowing for great benefits. </span>

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<h2><b>Conclusion</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></h2>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">So the benefits of intrinsic biomechanics on our health &amp; wellbeing is evident in every type of client demographic we may work with over our careers as instructors, trainers &amp; coaches. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">These benefits really come to the fore when we are able to develop a multidisciplinary team around us as part of our client journey for best practice.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s often once a practitioner has gained a deeper level of understanding intrinsic biomechanics they really start to appreciate the value. By applying the programme it becomes the missing link between all previous training models, as well as the missing link between diverse practitioner skill sets. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">As an unregulated sector we really are in need of this specialism in intrinsic biomechanics to fill the gaps between health &amp; fitness, wellness &amp; clinical practice, exercise &amp; medication. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Why not start your career change journey with our community around you by investing in our hugely popular </span><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/biomechanics-coach-diploma-2/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Diploma in Biomechanics Coaching</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">? Some of our 2023 dates are almost fully booked already so please do get in touch to find out more &amp; reserved your place! </span>

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