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The Connection between Movement and Pain
Have you ever been to a physical therapist, doctor, trainer, or anyone who evaluates your body or monitors how you move? If so, they have may told you that you have poor posture.
Traditionally held beliefs attempt to link “poor posture” or “bad movement” to pain. However, when discussing the literature surrounding movement and tissue damage, it’s evident that “good posture” appears to be mostly irrelevant in relation to pain. In other words, research doesn’t support either “good” or “bad” posture.
Therefore, we can’t confidently say that poor posture is the source of tissue damage or a pain response. “Perfect posture” is not the solution; consistent movement and variability surpass any isolated posture. The best posture is your next posture!
Therefore, we can’t confidently say that poor posture is the source of tissue damage or a pain response. “Perfect posture” is not the solution; consistent movement and variability surpass any isolated posture. The best posture is your next posture!
Your Brain is a Detailed GPS System
From professional athletes to musical entertainers and beyond, these high- energy performers execute complex motions with relative grace and ease. Whether it’s LeBron James dribbling down the court or Bruno Mars dancing on stage, their coordination and precision are due to the incredible motor control and movement pattern memory they’ve gained through countless hours of training. In your own body, think of this “muscle memory” as an internal GPS that’s aware of every movement you make.
When an injury occurs, your internal GPS is often reprogrammed to make you move in different ways. With an injury, there can be different messages sent between the brain and the muscle, meaning your “muscle memory” has been disrupted. After some time, your internal GPS may no longer be able to accurately identify certain roads on your body’s map.
When an injury occurs, your internal GPS is often reprogrammed to make you move in different ways. With an injury, there can be different messages sent between the brain and the muscle, meaning your “muscle memory” has been disrupted. After some time, your internal GPS may no longer be able to accurately identify certain roads on your body’s map.
While the injury is healing, the brain and body often coordinate alternative, compensatory strategies for certain movements like a limp, awkward bending mechanics, stiff movements, or limited range of motion. These protective phenomena are much like how a GPS detours to an alternative route because of a road closure.
The movement detours may feel uncomfortable or less efficient, much like driving down a heavily trafficked and overcrowded street. This is because your brain isn’t familiar with the detour, which may place new or different stresses on the system. By building new and confident movement strategies, you can experience minimal issues while the main road is being repaired. However, once the body’s healed and the route’s obstructions are cleared, it’s important to return to the main road without fear.
The movement detours may feel uncomfortable or less efficient, much like driving down a heavily trafficked and overcrowded street. This is because your brain isn’t familiar with the detour, which may place new or different stresses on the system. By building new and confident movement strategies, you can experience minimal issues while the main road is being repaired. However, once the body’s healed and the route’s obstructions are cleared, it’s important to return to the main road without fear.