Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/77424
FOr mOre InFOrmATIOn AbOuT GO PrImAL FITneSS, vISIT www.GOPrImALFITneSS.COm. In particular, the physical constraints of exercise machines provide false stability, overriding the body- based stabilizers we need to use in order to remain steady and balanced in any natural movement. Think about all the unconscious coordination required to simply stand on one leg: proprioceptors and mechanoreceptors in the ankle, knee, and hip provide continually updated information about where you are in space, as well as variations in pressure and speed of contraction. This information drives ongoing adjustments in numerous postural muscles responsible for keeping you upright. In contrast, working out on a machine builds up isolated muscles in the absence of this larger stabilizing system, which creates an imbalance in the body. An additional problem is a lack of integration. Movement in life occurs in integrated patterns, orchestrated by the nervous system. We're always moving in multiple planes—sagittal (forward and backward), frontal (side to side), and transverse (rotational). Typically, exercising on a machine involves repeating artificial motions that bear little similarity to our natural movement patterns; therefore, there is little carryover to other activities. A person may start to look more muscular, but still not experience any greater ease or decreased discomfort in their daily life. Consider a leg extension machine, on which the distal leg extends and flexes in order to strengthen the quadriceps muscle. There is no functional activity in real life that requires this type of isolated leg movement. It makes much more sense to engage the quadriceps with the foot connected to the ground; this enables an integrated motion, in which all the muscles and their innervating nerves are working in harmony, rather than isolation. For instance, in squatting, the quads are activated in unison with the hamstrings, hips, and abdominal wall, as well as the muscles of the calf and foot. An ALTernATIve TrAInInG APPrOACh: PrePArATIOn FOr reAL LIFe In contrast to motions constrained by machines, Go Primal Fitness emphasizes movement patterns that replicate real-life physical demands, with a focus on those movements the client cannot perform competently. For instance, suppose a client shows medial instability in a lunge (i.e., the knee tends to turn inward). It's important for that person's exercise program to include lunges, in order to improve strength and stability—not just for lunging per se, but for running, walking, or hiking as well. A lunge is simply an exaggerated form of a step, so whatever reaction happens in a lunge also occurs in a walk or a run, just in a less obvious way. Similarly, we do versions of a squat every day—bending down, standing up from a chair, or getting into a car. Improved squatting will translate directly into improved life functioning. Any number of factors may affect a person's ability to lunge or squat or perform other movements properly. That's why it's essential to first perform a thorough evaluation, pinpointing where the dysfunction originates. The assessment results drive the intervention. If a muscle-tendon unit is weakened due to a nerve impingement, the first task is not strengthening the muscle, but releasing the impingement. If the arches of the feet are dropped, this can cause dysfunction throughout the rest of the body. In this case, you may need to correct the feet before trying to strengthen the parts above it. Cambrea shared two case studies with me that illustrate how the Go Primal Fitness system works to help clients meet their goals. The first individual was a golfer; the second, a runner. The Golfer. This client came looking for a way to improve his golf game. He had done extensive strength training on machines, but was not getting the results he wanted. In the evaluation, Cambrea identified the key underlying issue: a hyperkyphotic (excessively anteriorly concave) thoracic spine. This severely limited the golfer's rotation and forced him to drive more from the shoulders than from the torso. The training plan focused first on spinal extension and stabilization exercises to help reduce the kyphotic curve, followed by integration exercises to teach the body to move more efficiently. As a result, the client experienced increased rotation in the thoracic spine; increased power output through the oblique muscles, hips, and shoulders; and an overall stronger golf game. The runner. A female runner looked to Go Primal Fitness when other treatments failed to bring her body into balance. Despite receiving massage and bodywork and engaging in an aggressive stretching program (repeated two to three times per day), she kept repeatedly injuring her hamstrings. Instead of simply working with her hamstrings, as other practitioners had done, Cambrea investigated the predisposing factors leading to the injuries. Through the evaluation process, he discovered that she actually had excessive range of motion in her hamstrings, while her lumbar mobility was limited; the lumbar spine was stuck in hyperextension. There was also a neural signal imbalance between her psoas muscles (which were overly activated) and her gluteus maximus muscles (which were underactivated). This explained why the hamstrings were under constant stress; they were forced to compensate for the gluteus muscles' diminished capacity. (See Neural Signal, page 97, for more detail.) earn CE hours at your convenience: abmp's online education center, www.abmp.com 95