Biomechanics Coach™ Dictionary of Definitions

<i>Normalised</i> = a level and moving pelvis and spine

We as Biomechanics Coaches™ work to a pyramid approach of exercise prescription. Normalise is the first tier of that pyramid. Without Normalisation, core training could be ‘gluing’ us/our clients into a wrong position or dysfunction.

Our concept is based upon the idea that muscles, joints and nerves all affect each other through the Integrated System. The iMoveFreely® programme provides techniques to effect the entire system through each individual sub system.

The initial series of iMoveFreely® techniques, to assist Normalisation, consists of muscle releases (or anti spasm exercises) based on Ribot-Ciscar’s work (1991).

Then there are also some very cool nerve mobilisation techniques based on David Butlers (The Sensitive Nervous System, 2000)

work that allow the nervous system to find its ‘normal’ range should it be tethered down in some way.

Then our ‘pure’ joint mobilisation approach is modified, from much of what is seen in our industry today, to very isolated joint mobility in an attempt to encourage the parts that don’t move well to move more freely.

The common way for mobility to be performed is often <i>cheating</i> us of improvement. If you ask your client to rotate their thoracic spine, to improve thoracic spine rotation, they will do whatever they can to perform that movement. Chances are that will include scapular rotation and possible some movement at the hips. The extra movement allowed at the scapular and hips creates the <i>effect</i> of great ROM, and is indeed a more ‘functional’ way to move. However the parts of their bodies that move well can actually limit the joints that don’t move so well from improving.

So while functionally we probably do want to rotate using all of these areas, if one portion isn't doing it’s part, we are at risk of an injury occurring from the overload in the other areas.

We can say we have <i>‘Normalised’</i> someone once their pelvis and spine are moving correctly, for that individual.

Learn how to Normalise yourself AND your clients
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