Personal trainers design exercise programs to gain better strength, mobility and cardiovascular endurance. Fitness centers offer equipment to implement many types of exercise available from group fitness classes to functional training.

Corrective exercise takes a slightly different approach. A specialist in corrective exercise analyzes movement patterns. This can help identify muscle imbalances.

We all have muscle imbalances. It means you can have musculoskeletal issues from the way you have trained for sports, injuries, chronic pain, surgeries, broken bones, sprained ankles, arthritis, and plantar fasciitis.

Muscle imbalance can begin at an early age, especially with repetitive motion and improper form when exercising or playing sports.

My emphasis for personal training is on active aging. How we move now indicates how we have been moving in the same patterns for a while. Our muscles have adapted to patterns over the years and may have compensated with adjustments that now can cause pain or discomfort.

As an example, if you play tennis regularly and you have that same serve primarily on one side, through the years your body begins to compensate with imbalances. The same goes for a mother that might carry her child on the same hip or a person that carries heavy books or a purse on the same side, wears high heels daily, sits at a computer, or is seated for long periods such as long-distance driving.

Corrective exercise is designed in three progressive phases for muscle imbalance.
The assessment begins with a verbal consultation and discussion used to acquire a health history. Discussion includes the client’s movements, past and present work. Lifestyle, sports played, areas of discomfort, and what generally causes your discomfort are topics discussed. It also includes any diagnosed conditions that may influence the musculoskeletal system.

The visual and hands-on assessment is an observance of movement and how the client feels during brief motion phases. The visual assessment engages movement and observes the way we move, beginning at the feet and ankles and continuing up to the neck and shoulders.

When we have an imbalance in one area it travels up the entire kinetic chain. For example, if you overpronate, that can cause an imbalance in your knees, hip and pelvis region and travel up to your shoulders and neck. The body quickly adjusts to imbalances and finds a way to compensate for movement.

It is important to remember that an assessment does not take the place of a medical diagnosis.

Myofascial release is the next part of the exercise program. Myofascial release is a massage foam rolling technique for muscle soreness in broad areas. A tennis or golf ball is used for targeted areas. Areas may include scar tissue, tightness, restrictions or flexibility. The massage stimulates blood circulation to the area and helps to heal soft tissue.

After targeted muscles have been identified, stretching is the next phase for muscle groups for static, passive and dynamic stretching. Stretching exercises are used to increase flexibility and range of motion.

Once muscle groups have been addressed the program design includes exercises that balance weak and over-lengthened muscles that work together. With an effective program, the client will begin to see improvement and be able to enjoy daily activities and movement with strength, flexibility and balance.

Live, love life with movement and corrective exercise.