Corrective Exercise: What is it?

Corrective Exercise: A systematic, scientifically proven method of creating an orthopedically healthy and balanced body.

Technology and innovation over the last several decades has changed the world and the way that we view information. It has also, however, taken it's toll on public health. The human body was designed to move. Sitting for long periods at our desks, in transportation, and on our couches, has created a monster of lifestyle related physical conditions. The costs are not just metabolic and cardiovascular in nature. When sedentary people decide to start an exercise plan, play golf, hike, and participate in other leisure activities, their bodies are unprepared for the stress. Aches, pains, and injury are common. Most people now live with chronic pain. Lower back pain affects 80% of the adult population. 70-75% of all knee injuries are non contact in nature. 40% of shoulder pain lasts for over a year.

People don't need to be in pain. Correcting muscular imbalances that are created by our daily lives, and increasing strength and range of movement, are vital to the health and well-being of everyone! Corrective exercise is a combination of myofascial release, lengthening tight muscles, strengthening weak stabilizing muscles, and re-integrating coordinated movements that are important in keeping people functional and pain free.

MindBody Unlimited uses start of the art techniques to help people achieve a high levels of function.

Myofascial release:

Percussion therapy is a non invasive, and very effective, way to decrease over-activity of a muscle. It is used in combination with manual therapy, foam rollers, and other common release techniques.

Opens proper blood flow

Assists lymphatic drainage

Releases chronic emotional tension

Decreases inflammation

"Turns off" the neural signals responsible for micro spasms

These benefits allow the body to use it's natural healing capabilities to begin the recovery process

Lengthening techniques:

The next step is to identify muscles that are tighter and shorter than they should be. Over time the imbalance created between chronically short muscles and the weak counterparts pull bones out of their natural position. Assisted stretching is used to gently lengthen and restore these muscles to proper function. Moving the body back into alignment with the center and allowing the muscles to relax and let the surrounding musculature do it's job to stabilize and protect the skeletal system.

Strengthening techniques:

Weak muscles are then identified and addressed. Many of these muscles are undetectable to an untrained individual and examples include external rotators of the shoulder, core stabilizers of the trunk, and hip extensors. An assessment is performed joint by joint to measure and evaluate the strength and contractility of important muscles that are designed to aid in the protection and stability of the body. Specific strengthening exercises are then prescribed.

Integration and Activation techniques:

As the body begins to realign and reposition into a healthier way, corrective exercise then seeks to get the individual back "into the game." Specific and coordinated movements create new motor unit recruitment patterns that create effective and efficient movement. Exercises are designed for the individual needs of the client. The goal is to train the body in specific ways to create not only functional health in daily activities, but to prepare the body for more vigorous sports and leisure pursuits so that they may live a full and healthy, pain free life.