Another flyer to the local gym lands in your mailbox. You have committed that this is the year of my best body and you quickly call to join.
It’s hard work, it hurts, and could be slightly embarrassing but in our minds we are still in our prime; so what could the downside be?
The Down Side of Improperly Supervised Workouts
Unfortunately many of us are misguided by magazines or well intentioned videos to what the most beneficial exercises would be for our bodies. The amount of people in the gym engaging in fundamentally dangerous exercises which have no real life functional benefit whatsoever is actually astounding. So be careful when seeking helpful advice on your first stages of workout and seek your recommendations and guidelines that embrace the method of functional benefit.
Functional benefit from exercise refers to the conditioning of the muscles and structures used in your activities of daily living. This form of training encompasses whole body movements such as squats and lunges which place a demand on the bodies core stabilizing structures to ensure balance, stability and coordination. To operate as an effective “kinetic chain”, our joints must be stabilized as forces are transmitted through them. Functional training tasks should, therefore, emphasize multi-joint movements where muscles work in coordinated task groups. They should also be dynamic enough to activate the reflexes that enhance the system’s stability and efficiency. Finally, they should require skillful solutions, similar to the motor problems posed by many of todays daily activities.
Core Focus
Though commonly used to refer to the abs and lower-back muscles collectively (considered the epicenter of the body ), the term “core” actually applies to several muscles throughout the upper and lower body. The transverse abdominis, rectus abdominis (your six-pack muscle), internal obliques, multifidus, spinal erectors, lats, glutes, and traps can all be considered core muscles. These muscle groups all work together, often simultaneously, to stabilize and support the spine. Since the spinal cord is the main avenue for sending messages to the muscles throughout your body, the safer your body senses that it is, the more comfortable it feels sending those messages out and the more clearly they are received.
Building a strong core is the first step toward making maximal gains in strength and power and performing any kind of skilled athletic movement. Strong supporting muscles around the spine also reduce lower-back pain, as well as the risk for lower-back injury. Let us not forget, since the core encompasses all the abdominal muscles that make up that aesthetic six-pack look, it’s the foundation of a ripped midsection.
Start Slowly
Change your training gradually. It doesn’t matter how fit you are, when your body is exposed to a new physical stress it takes time for your system to adapt. This rule is not limited to sports activities but should be applied to other areas of your life.
Watch For:
Tightness and Restriction The body is quite clever. When an area is irritated or injured the nervous system usually tightens the muscles around the region to help brace or splint the region to protect it. This increase in muscle tone can be felt before you feel any pain, and it’s usually specific to one area. If you are unable to stretch and release a tight area or cramp, apply ice and rest. If the tension continues consult your chiropractor or integrated physical medicine team whose team includes a great chiropractor.
The Normal Pain Quotient Nature designed pain for a reason. There is a difference between working hard and feeling a bit sore after a session and a pathological pain. Use the 3-day rule: if it’s not better after a few days there might be something going on.
Charged Up and Ready To Help!
The exciting news is that out of this demand for thrill seeking and pushing for the “next great”, we now have specialists who use their expertise to not only rehabilitate sports injuries but teach athletes to be part of the top 1% by listening to their bodies and making them aware of be aware of common signals that can alert them that an injury may occur.
Our expert team is here and ready to help you not only with achieving your health goals successfully but to help you maintain those results. We recommend that before you begin any new exercise regiment that you have a check-up and take advantage of our expertise. If injuries do occur let our team also help your body repair properly to restore and revitalize function on your path to achieving your new year’s body transformation.
For Your Health,
Dr. Wendy Lanser, DC