Control is a choice; choice is control

Sometimes we need to fix the car by stopping and looking under the bonnet, finding and fixing the issue before happily driving into the sunset.

Searching for the specific movement deficit is worthwhile

Lincoln Blandford finds the deficit and fixes the fault

Possession of free, flowing, fluid and lucid movement underpins what can be considered as desirable for both elite sport performance and the sustained longevity of a healthy and robust movement system. Once movement is compromised, from the short term presence of pain or fatigue, or the longer term impact of restriction, chronic pain or the deficits left by previous injury we begin to lose choices in our movement outcomes. Choice is control and in the presence or history of pain we begin lose choices. People in pain have their movement options reduced, losing variability in their task achievement until there may be only one way left to move. Restoring these choices and rebuilding an agile movement system can be done and the research emerging from the field of neuroscience is assistive in showing just how. Changing the brain’s perception of the movement system resides central to this pursuit.

Along the route to regain choice in our movement lie many steps, some of which look very different to the end stage goal. From these many tools which we can embrace can be something as simple as learning how to move one region, whilst not moving another. Frequently employed within the rehabilitation model to restore movement choices to those in pain this tool is a stepping stone to ever more integrate approaches. For those weary of such a seemingly delineated movement task to that of everyday life and sport there comes a helpful analogy; sometimes we need to fix the car by stopping and looking under the bonnet, finding and fixing the issue before happily driving into the sunset. The non-functional can address the problems that can arise during function. For an excellent example of this approach changing synergistic contributions, kinematics and pain scales see Worsley et al., 2013.

Worsley P, Warner M, Mottram S, Gadola S, Veeger H, Hermens H, Morrissey D, Little P, Cooper C, Carr A, Stokes M. Motor control retraining exercises for shoulder impingement: effects on function, muscle activation, and biomechanics in young adults.  Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2013 Apr;22(4):e11-9

Post written by Lincoln Blandford, Performance Development Consultant at The Performance Matrix