The Problem with Muscle Imbalances
By Sara Butler
One of the things chiropractors look for when treating you is a muscle imbalance. This isn’t a problem that just strikes the very active and athletic; anyone can experience muscle imbalances that can lead to larger problems. Here is what you need to know about muscle imbalances and how your chiropractor can help.
Why Muscle Imbalances Are Bad
When you exercise a lot or you’re training for something specific, muscle imbalances indicate a problem with your training routine. Your training routine is leaving something out or focusing on the wrong things, and that can lead to pain and even injury for you if you’re not careful.
If you think you’re not in danger of a muscle imbalance because you’re not an athlete, you should think again! You can create muscle imbalances in your body by simply sitting at a desk all day with poor posture.
What is a Muscle Imbalance?
When you break it down to brass tacks, a muscle imbalance means a muscle on one side of your joint is stronger than the opposing muscle on the other side of the joint. Your body is not made to be out of balance like this. Your body craves balance and seeks to restore it, but if you’re training improperly you’re hindering your body’s ability to perform optimally and in the process causing problems for yourself.
Symptoms of a Muscle Imbalance
There are a lot of ways muscle imbalances can present themselves. Muscle imbalance symptoms include
- Slipped discs
- Lower back pain
- Rotator cuff tendonitis
- Shoulder impingement
- Headaches
- Neck pain
- Sports injuries
- Knee pain
- Hamstring tears
The Treatment for Muscle Imbalances
When you see your chiropractor they assess your posture and function. If they identify an area you have a muscle imbalance there are a few approaches they can take.
If your imbalance is due to a weak muscle group, the chiropractor may recommend exercises to strengthen that muscle group and help to restore balance. This can help to correct the alignment of your body. The most beneficial thing your chiropractor can do for you is to help you identify what factors are contributing to your issue and solve the underlying problem instead of just treating the symptoms.
Sometimes muscle imbalances are caused by tight muscles and soft tissues. If you spend a lot of time sitting at your desk each day, you may have short and tight hip flexor muscles, and that can lead to back pain. With your chiropractor’s help, you can identify this problem and begin a stretching routine that can help restore balance.
If you think you may have a muscle imbalance, come into The Joint Chiropractic today for an assessment!