What Do You Need?
“I just need you to dig into this spot, right here.” “This needs to pop, then I’ll feel better.” “It just needs a good stretch.” Have you ever thought to ask yourself why this may be the case?
“I just need you to dig into this spot, right here.” “This needs to pop, then I’ll feel better.” “It just needs a good stretch.” Have you ever thought to ask yourself why this may be the case?
In my previous post I wrote about the how the word tight is a useless symptom description. This sensation of “tightness” is due to musculotendinous shortness or stiffness. While shortness is physiological and more difficult to address, excessive stiffness is correctable via movement and exercise.
Most clinicians and coaches understand the importance of achieving and maintaining an optimal spine position during exercise and daily life. Appropriate lumbo-pelvic posturing is often the initial focus towards correction however this will often take care of itself (or make correction much easier) when optimal cervical spine posture is achieved. Many rest in upper cervical extension and lower cervical flexion, manifesting as the typical forward head posture often seen. This results in a lack of joint centration or stability throughout the cervical spine, leading to overactive upper cervical extensors/scalenes and sternocleidomastoids, while the intrinsic stabilizers are inhibited, most notably the deep neck flexors.
“My hamstrings are tight.”
This is something clinicians and coaches constantly hear in reference to a variety of muscle groups or areas of the body. Often times the individual with this complaint is scrawny and deconditioned, with little reason for feeling this way.
An injury can be devastating for any lifter or athlete engaging in the never ending quest to become stronger, faster, more athletic, or simply look like a beast. A herniated lumbar disc will stop a powerlifter from squatting, pec tears will interrupt a bodybuilder’s upper body splits and a hamstring pull will keep a football player from improving his 40 yard dash at the NFL combine.
Part 1 of our discussion on pillar strength described what pillar strength is and why it is so essential. Part 2 will give you the tools to implement pillar training into your programs.