Have you ever heard or thought, "I've been to a chiropractor and been adjusted but it just seems to come back" or "I keep stretching my hamstrings but they are always tight" or "I can get a massage but it only lasts for 1-2 days"? You are not alone. But first, some definitions and benefits. Flexibility: the quality of bending easily without breaking. Stability: the state of being stable (not likely to give way or overturn; firmly fixed)
Benefits of flexibility training:
- Reduces stress in the exercising muscles
- Increase range of motion
- Reduces the risk of injury during exercise and daily activities
Benefits of Stability and Strength training:
- Helps develop better body mechanics
- Protects bone health and muscle mass
- Boosts energy and improves mood
Why do these matter?
Flexibility and stability should not be considered as separate entities.
Without stability, a flexible muscle can feel tight or continually cause pain and discomfort. If someone is extremely flexible they can also be at increased risk of injury because they cannot adequately support themselves.
Without flexibility, you are strengthening dysfunction. For instance, if our adductors are tight and we try to squat, we may not be able to deep squat because the adductors are limiting hip flexion. Rather than strengthening an incomplete squat we should increase the flexibility of the adductors thereby allowing a squat below 90 and then add strengthening. You don't want to strengthen a muscle that doesn't have its full range of motion.
Why has chiropractic/massage/stretching not worked for me?
When we talk about frequently getting chiropractic adjustments, massages or stretching without success, we are talking about increasing flexibility. The thing is, these areas may already be flexible and what they really need is stability/strength.
Rather than stretching until your face goes blue, it is important to find out what your body truly needs - which may be stability/strength.
Why do I have pain when lifting?
If you are frequently battling aches and pains when lifting, you may need to increase flexibility of specific muscles.
Rather than lifting through the pain, it is important to find out what your body truly needs - which may be flexibility
My head is spinning, how do I find out what I need?
Call (331) 307-7110 to schedule an appointment today for a thorough evaluation to determine what your body needs. It may be a balancing act of both flexibility and stability!