Muscular balance refers to the state in which the ability of any muscle to contract and relax fully is unimpeded by excess tension.
When muscles are in a state of balance, there's an equal distribution of tension, strength, and endurance across the body's muscle groups, reducing the risk of injury, improving posture, and enhancing overall physical performance.
There are several components to muscular balance:
1. Agonist-Antagonist Balance: The agonist's muscles are the primary movers in action. At the same time, antagonists work in opposition to control the movement. For example, the biceps and triceps act as an agonist-antagonist pair in the arm. Maintaining balance between these ensures they provide equal force, which reduces joint strain.
2. Left-Right Balance: This ensures equal strength and flexibility on both sides of the body. Imbalances, such as favoring one side over the other, can lead to overuse injuries and issues related to posture.
Scoliosis serves as an extreme example.
3. Upper-Lower Body Balance: This ensures that the strength of the upper body is balanced with that of the lower body, allowing for overall body stability and reducing injury risk during activities that require whole-body coordination.
4. Core Strength Balance: The core muscles (e.g., abdominals, lower back, and hip muscles) provide stability and support to the spine. A balanced core helps maintain posture and reduce lower back pain.
Muscular imbalances can develop from poor posture, repetitive activities, lack of variety in exercise, or focusing too much on certain muscle groups. Correcting these imbalances through Corrective Massage supports a balanced, functional, and resilient body.
A Holistic approach.
It serves to remember that we, as therapists, do not heal anything. We simply recognize, respect, and support the body's 'built-in' healing ability.
Corrective Massage recognizes the importance of balanced relationships, movements, and interactions throughout the body's soft tissues*. These relationships include natural anatomical positions and functionally balanced movement unimpeded by soft tissue tension.
Functional balance implies that our soft tissues are working harmoniously to support pain-free, healthy movement and function.
In Taum's world of Corrective Massage, considering all bodily movement as an orchestration of soft tissue relationships is a fundamental principle and starting point.
These foundational principles include familiarity with Equilibrium and Homeostasis. AKA Balance.
For example: Walking initially appears to be a simple activity. It actually involves a complex orchestration of numerous soft tissues.
A symphony of movement:
Our body requires over 200 of our 600 muscles to take one step. Of those 200, many serve as compensating adapters working in the background to keep us upright as we walk. While all our weight is on the right foot, those background muscles are adapting and counterbalancing so we do not fall over.
Each and every soft tissue plays a vital role in the body's ability to move and adapt to unbalanced tensions.
Our bodies can adapt to those tensions.
But only so far...
Limping is an example of crossing the adaptation line.
Pain serves as an alert that unbalanced tension has exceeded the body's ability to adapt, and corrective therapy is required.
The foundational focus of this unique therapy is to interpret the alert and then identify and correct the soft tissue tensions and imbalances that have created those alerts.
Corrective massage has repeatedly proven to be an efficient and effective method to reduce and relieve pain.
I hope this information serves you and those you serve.
*Muscles, tendons, ligaments, membranes, and viscera.
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Rebalancing the Lower Back and Hips: The Core Tuesday, January 28thFind it, Feel it, Fix it. Location: SLCClass size limited to 10
This 6-hour class focuses on corrective massage techniques for rebalancing regional soft tissues that often play a central role in maintaining balance and pain-free movement in the 'Core' region. |
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The Viscera, Lymph, and Digestion. Wednesday, January 28thFind it, Feel it, Fix it. Location: SLCClass size limited to 10
-Stagnant is not healthy. -Every cell in the human body requires moisture. -That moisture is constantly being refreshed, recycled, and replaced. -The Lymphatic, Visceral and Digestive systems are essential to that process.
My experience suggests visceral massage should be considered a 'Core' technique included in almost all sessions.
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