A Joint by Joint Approach to Training Part 2

Now that we know the requirement of each joint of the body, we'll now move onto implications of not adhering to this.

Remembering that the body alternates joints requiring mobility and stability as you go from the feet up to the head, it's important to know how this continuum effects the rest of the body.

The hips are the center of the body, where all your strength is generated so we'll take that as a starting point.

The hips require mobility as they are a much deeper ball and socket joint then the shoulder and with the sedentary lifestyle that is lead now, is severely lacking in everyday movements.

The joints either side of the hips is the knee and lumbar spine, both of which require stability. The biggest problem when a joint requiring mobility but doesn't have it, is that mobility will need to be generated from somewhere else. That somewhere else is the joint above or below it. This a would mean that mobility is required and thus developed at the knee and/or the lumbar spine which goes against the whole mobility-stability continuum.

What this results in is knee and lower back pain as you it giving the range of motion that the hips can't give you and now a joint that is mean to be stable and strong, is mobile and weak and prone to injury.

This is only one example but each joint will need to compensate somewhat for the lack of mobility or stability at another joint.

Pain is often referred from another area of the body so next time we'll discuss how everything links up and how you can determine your actual problem, rather then treating the symptom of your pain.