Muscular coordination is integral to strength, balance, and posture. The nature of muscles is that they do not function alone. Muscles work together within a functional group, so that when muscles coordinate, they form a pattern of activity. A pattern that can be disturbed and lead to muscular imbalance.
Individual muscles can go wrong independently of other muscles due to fatigue, stress, injury, and prolonged protective holding. Isolated regions within the muscle become low in oxygen, low in blood yet plump with fluid, rendering the region as non-functioning (1). These regions are called trigger points. As individual muscles become laden with trigger points they do not function helpfully within the group and thus muscular imbalance begins. Some trigger points will ignite the pain system whilst others cause pain elsewhere or are not painful.
For example: When hip imbalance occurs, the gluteal muscles do not work together:
The fatigue within muscles that cause trigger points and ultimately muscular imbalance results from overuse, deconditioning, inadequate breathing, stress, age related physiological changes, genetic mutations, disease and/or injury (1).
As you improve along your Fascia First Chiropractic treatment plan you’ll notice after about 4 sessions how your muscular coordination improves. At about 90 days (2) (6-8 sessions) muscles have had chance to repair leading to strength and good posture.
References:
- Gerwin RD (2023) A New unified Theory of Trigger Point Formation. Int J Moi Sci 24(9): 8142.
- Hides JA et al (1996). Multifidus Muscle Recovery is Not Automatic after Resolution of Acute (pain) first episode. The Spine Journal