MOVEMENT PATTERN OPTIMIZATION STRATEGIES
The preferred movement pattern is dependent on the mechanical state of the body and the availability of sensory feedback during performance of a task. Humans do not always automatically prefer the mechanically optimal movement pattern but can gradually adapt their preference toward optimum over time when relevant proprioceptive feedback is available.
To increase the quality of proprioceptive feedback, we focus on making the body’s fascia system more balanced and elastic - Fascia contains about six times more sensory nerve endings than muscle, making it essentially a body-wide sensory organ.
ACHIEVING FASCIAL BALANCE
To create a dynamic, well-rounded fascia system we use whole-body compression and expansion techniques with submaximal loads that provide highly variable timing, angle and force vector inputs. Training the system progressively, starting with slow whole-body exercises- recruiting the most neuromuscular units during the task while stimulating the most tissues. Doing so will remove the underlying imbalances in the tissues and sensory nervous system, making the body able to produce more force, power and speed throughout the musculoskeletal system - You don't need to go fast to get faster.
All values (tempo, exercise selection, force, etc.) are all highly dependent on the clients' Movement Screen's results. When evaluating a client, we look at how many different ways we can push their movement options and design an according program (Biomechanically speaking, if someone needs to drive counternutation, we may emphasize squatting and abandon hinging for the time being). Whatever it takes to expand our clients movement options across a variety of intensities.
Nikola Jokić - NBA champion and 3x MVP
putting in work at The Ritz-Carlton early on game day
We strive towards finding how imbalanced the system can get tailored to our client’s needs without increasing their personal risk of injury. What we go after is not perfect balance, but a healthy imbalance. Like a great coach once said "If all values are levelled, we are a little bit good at everything. If a professional athlete is a little bit good at everything but not great at anything, they are probably out of a job."
One of the big problems we sees is decreased fascia function from overuse syndrome, which decreases the gliding of the collagen layers and alters proprioception. Isolated areas of extra-high tone or low tone predisposes the system to injury. When there is an even tone across the body, that's when the system has the most injury resilience. A good example of this is when someone says something like, Monday is chest day. That's an overuse syndrome
Mr. Bannock working on rebalancing his fascia after four open heart surgeries at Ace Sports Clinic (previous practice)
ACHIEVING FASCIAL ELASTICITY
To make the body's fascial system elastic; We use short, cyclic, quickly repeated motions, like bouncing, jumping rope, or running on the balls of your feet, as opposed to slower contraction cycles, like bicycling or rowing. Always starting his client with slow movements with proper form and then increasing speed and load as the tissue and nervous system mature and adapt.
Research shows that leveraging the elastic fascial recoil energy in tendons during explosive movements amplifies the motion while reducing muscular demand - making movements easier, more controllable, and more efficient.
It is important to note that while significant muscle development can be achieved in a matter of weeks and months, it can take six months to two years to build up balanced body-wide fascial elasticity. The greater the imbalance between the two, the higher the chance for injury.
One of the fascia lines: Tbe Anterior Oblique Sling (Fascia lines are robust strands of long collagen fibers with high tensile strength that have tremendous resilience and elastic storage capabilities)
To sum up, The Movement Screen gives us all relevant information to create an effective intervention towards movement optimum. With adequate coaching recommendations, we facilitate our client's body's ability to increase its quality of mechanical feedback - allowing the human body to gradually adapt their preference towards movement optimum.
When every small percentage matters, every possible deficit should be changed.