BY ALASDAIR JONES - MCSP
Article date : 01/02/2007
The importance of a healthy Kinetic Chain
Hi Athletes!
For any athlete, the importance of postural balance cannot be overstated. There
is a good body of evidence to suggest that an imbalance left over from an old, seemingly
insignificant injury can result in patterns of movement which spark a cumulative
and’or persistent injury.
The Kinetic Chain concept consists of a balanced, functioning Muscular system, Skeletal
system (focusing on the joints) and Nervous system. (More detail on these in the
coming weeks.)
If one of these components is altered due to repetitive stress, old injury, or poor
training technique, then it can have the same effect as making a small hole in a
dam. Now, if you’re lucky, you can get away with it for months or even years, but
as an athlete, you are (hopefully) much more dynamic than the inanimate dam, and
will therefore put significantly more stress on the weakened area.
For example, if you have a slight tweak in your quadriceps (front of your thigh)
muscle
there will be a resultant tightening, leading to a shortening of your running
stride on one side. This in turn will stimulate a compensation somewhere along the
kinetic chain.
If the compensation is allowed to continue unchecked, then you are likely to notice
symptoms of strain down the kinetic chain to the ankle, or up to the hip and possibly
into the low back.
These secondary problems can then lead to compensations elsewhere in the chain,
such as restricted shoulder movement when running, an increase in neck muscle tension,
which is likely to affect your performance in the run, bike and swim! All from a
minor quadriceps tweak…
In summary, if you distort one link in the kinetic chain, the function of the chain
as a whole is at risk, and so is your performance.
If you think you may be suffering from any of the issues covered above, please seek
advice from a health professional.
This column is provided by the Physiotherapists at Colchester Physiotherapy and
Sports Injury Clinic Ltd.
www.colchesterphysiotherapyclinic.co.uk