LIFTING STRENGTH AND THE BALANCE OF POWER

Is having too much isolated strength ever a "BAD" thing?                                                            In terms of the body and many common physical maladies from low back pain, restricted mobility of shoulders and hips and even balance issues YES! 

Just think about your body like a typical family household. There are often a number of individuals (muscles) which ultimately play a specific role within the family unit (body). Like every individual at various times muscles often have unique key roles which they excel at in supporting the efforts of allowing the family (body) to prosper and succeed with a active productive life.  If not enough attention is paid to any one of those unique individuals (muscles) communication breaks as a whole, then often times leading to confusion to which persons (muscles) are responsible for what role.  This creates a chain reaction of necessary survival leading to exhausted inefficient efforts by other family members (surrounding muscles) trying to compensate as a result of the lack of communication and a clear strategy to be successful as a collaborative entity. Add to that unexpected life challenges causing further disruptions or incidents (movements) occurring with consequences of unintended tension overtime contributing to an on going long term negative effect. (wear and tear) to the family structure. (spinal integrity damaging tissues taking stress not designed to withstand)

Just like a family we're not talking about tying to find the perfect balance, which most people understand is very difficult or most times impossible to achieve, but what can provide a huge advantage overtime is a continual compromising attempt to achieve or at least maintain a degree of a balanced strength position with your body. Posturing and energy devoted to your family of muscles to communicate and work as a functionally sound balanced team goes the distance in helping to avoid those pains associated with the daily unbalanced workloads the world often dishes out to us everyday. This is where understanding over our lifetimes how well we move or not (walking a great way to start) has a direct cause and effect with various degrees of consequences to each individual over our lifetimes. Unfortunately, some individuals being negatively impacted more than others.

We all have those predictable and often times many unpredictable split second moments which require a quick action of power (strength with speed) we can never predict and plan for, but we can practice safety with those planned predictable feats of strength which are required in our chosen activities.  Most injuries and especially common bouts of acute or chronic low back pain are a result and brought on overtime from a weak core requiring the low back muscles to over perform without a supportive effort (muscular activation) of the core stabilizing the spine and proper collaboration with the low back during lifts. (refer to our library)  Along with strengthening the core be sure to avoid positions of lifting which require the body to bend and twist at the same time, as these are the most dangerous to perform and difficult to protect the spine properly.  Although injuries can occur during one particular stress event often times it is often multiple seemingly simple less than efficient repetitions over our lifetime which add up to deterioration of the general health of our spines.

Be sure when performing those predictable and well timed physical activities to take time and proper caution to communicate as efficiently as possible how best to achieve those muscular moves with the greatest efficiency and safety to help support long term health of your spine and joints. And more importantly when it's appropriate to hire a local mover!

Is having too much power ever a "GOOD" thing? YES!                                                               When we are able to understand the Balance of Power.

Sincerely,

The Balance Professor, Making Movement Matter