If you’ve ever been incapacitated due to an injury, you know what a pain it is, in more ways than one. Not only do athletic and workplace injuries cause acute and sometimes long-lasting pain, but they can also hinder your ability to engage in the activities you enjoy. But what if you could use your body synergistically with each muscle group supporting the others to avoid getting injured in the first place? Corrective exercise can help you strengthen your body to correct musculoskeletal imbalances, allowing you to train effectively and safely. But what exactly is corrective exercise?
Corrective exercise helps you address faulty movement patterns that may be contributing to weakness, injuries, and poor performance. By improving your balance, posture, and coordination, corrective exercise enables you to move fluidly without pain.
What is corrective exercise?
Much like acupuncture, corrective exercise takes a holistic approach to your musculoskeletal issues. Before you begin your corrective exercise program, you’ll need to be assessed. Gaining a better understanding of your unique anatomy will help us identify any imbalances you may be experiencing. Pinpointing the source of your musculoskeletal dysfunction is key to restoring proper muscle movement.
Once the root of your musculoskeletal issues has been identified, we will come up with an exercise program tailored to meet your needs. Regardless of your specific needs, your corrective exercise program will aim to align your body, reducing unnecessary strain on overworked muscle groups and bringing underworked muscle groups back into use.
Improving the quality of your every movement allows you to train more effectively, improving your strength and performance while simultaneously reducing the risk of future injury. Regular corrective exercise sessions also make it easier to engage in everyday activities, like climbing stairs or chasing after your kids, so you can get back to enjoying life instead of sitting on the sidelines.
Who needs corrective exercise?
Corrective exercise can benefit anyone struggling with musculoskeletal dysfunction, regardless of activity level. But it’s especially helpful for athletes and laborers — people who rely on their physical abilities on a day-to-day basis. Corrective exercise is also highly recommended for anyone who has sustained an injury to learn how to use their muscles in a more cohesive manner that allows them to avoid more pain in the future.
No body is perfect. We’re all asymmetrical, and most people have a dominant left or right side. These biomechanical imperfections cause us to favor using some muscle groups and neglect using others, which naturally gives way to dysfunction.
Because all of our muscle groups are connected, when one muscle group gets thrown out of whack, the whole system is soon knocked off kilter. For instance, if you tend to overuse your right arm playing tennis, this will soon affect your shoulder, neck, and upper back. Those muscles will have to overcompensate for the repeated stress your arm muscles endure.
Over time, the dysfunction will spread beyond those muscle groups. You may experience lower back pain that radiates into your hips and legs. This can impair your posture, leading to even more incoordination. And because this widespread dysfunction develops so slowly, you may believe that each new pain is being caused by a separate issue when, in reality, it’s all the result of incorrect exercise while playing tennis.
What can corrective exercise treat?
Corrective exercise can be used to help treat a variety of musculoskeletal imbalances, including not just exercise-related dysfunction, but also anatomical issues, like scoliosis and lordosis. Regular corrective exercise sessions improve your posture, strength, flexibility, and range of motion, making it easier to use your body all the way around.
Studies have shown that corrective exercise improves muscular functionality, significantly reducing the risk of injury. When you use your body correctly, moving becomes easier. And when you start moving the right way, you maximize your physical performance. Since every body can benefit from moving correctly, corrective exercise can improve anyone’s quality of life.
Corrective exercise programs can provide relief for common sports injuries, like quad strain and facet joint pain. It can also be beneficial for osteoarthritis and sciatica patients. Even if you aren’t struggling with a specific injury, corrective exercise can help you address hip, neck, back, and shoulder pain, helping you eliminate all of those random aches you get on a daily basis.
Like acupuncture, you can even rely on corrective exercises after orthopedic surgery. A custom corrective exercise program will help you regain your strength and mobility as you embark on the path to recovery.
No matter what stage you find yourself in, corrective exercise can help you on your healing journey so you can get back to living your life and enjoy all of your favorite activities pain-free.
Is corrective exercise enough to treat your pain?
When it comes to addressing your musculoskeletal dysfunction, a corrective exercise program is a great place to start. But, depending on your physical condition and future goals, we may recommend additional treatments to maximize the effects of your exercise regimen.
In some cases, dry needling and cupping can be used to ease tension and encourage healthy muscle function. Electrostimulation may also be warranted to stimulate contraction and improve release.
If you’re an athlete, sports acupuncture may boost your progress, too. Acupuncture has been shown to enhance exercise performance and post-exercise recovery. Regular acupuncture sessions support proper musculoskeletal function and can provide you with better results as you make your way through your corrective exercise program.
Booking your first appointment
Every patient is different, and no two corrective exercise programs are alike. If you want to learn more about corrective exercise programming and how it can improve your quality of life, contact our offices today. Our friendly staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have and guide you as to which treatment options are worth exploring to help you find relief from your symptoms.
When you book an appointment with Lycoming Orthopedic & Sports Acupuncture, we make your health goals our top priority. From your very first appointment, we will carefully consider your health history and help you come up with a treatment plan that aligns with your goals.
Give us a call today to discover firsthand how corrective exercise can take your athletic performance to the next level.
