pain | Garrett McLaughlin, MS, ATC, CSCS, ART

Function before fitness is a topic that I am very passionate about. I really shy away from giving people exercises just to exercise. To me, that is unethical and missing the most important part. Proper bodily function should precede every fitness program. This means each person should complete a movement screen first to detect any underlying imbalances, asymmetries, faulty movement patterns, or pain. If you test acceptable on the movement screen, then by all means do whatever exercises you like. But, if there are red flags, it is essential to investigate and correct these issues before compounding the problem

One ex Squat - delaware ercise I often see people doing wrong is the squat. By far one of the best exercises and a fundamental movement pattern that everyone should be able to do. But, if you can’t squat properly with the chest up, knees out wide, and weight back on the heels, then you really shouldn’t be adding weight to it. Something here is wrong and continuing to add weight to a dysfunctional movement pattern will compound the problem a lot quicker then correcting and then building up from scratch.

Have you ever suffered from an injury? Did you properly rehabilitate to regain natural function? And, I’m not just talking about until the pain subsided. Following each injury and any stimulus of pain, it is common for our movement patterns to be altered. This matters because so often people endure injuries where they limp, compensate, or favor the affected side and changes occur which will increase the likelihood of future injury. This should be taken into consideration for any exercise goer who had/has pain and continues to exercise without properly addressing the issue.

So, what am I trying to get at? Function far outweighs fitness when comes to proper movement. If you haven’t had a chance to be assessed, it is well worth the money. And, if you are returning from an injury or currently have pain, make sure you go through a full rehabilitation program aimed not only at decreasing your pain and symptoms, but fixing the underlying cause and addressing any compensation which resulted. All of this is just like building a house. You’d obviously want a solid foundation laid down before adding all the extras. Contact myself if you are interested in completing a movement screen or would like to be directed to the appropriate professional in your area.

Garrett McLaughlin is an athletic trainer, personal trainer, and certified active release techniques provider. He is passionate about creating safe, and effective fitness and rehabilitation programs for the general population and athletes. ‘Like‘ Garrett’s Facebook page to stay up-to-date on related health, fitness, and nutrition information.

Active release techniques is a patented soft-tissue system that treats muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. It is common through repetitive daily tasks and athletic events that we develop restrictions within our soft-tissue structures which limit blood flow/circulation, cause pain, limit range of motion, and cause compensatory motion. ART is a specific system that allows the provider to use his hands to identify restriction and adhesions within the tissues and treat using specific protocols. These protocols consist of identifying the structure involved, placing that structure in a shortened position, apply a specific contact tension along the tissue, and then actively or passively lengthening the tissue. By doing so, the dysfunctional tissue slides under the contact of the provider causing any restriction or adhesions within the tissue to be broken up resulting in the restoration of normal functional tissue.

Several factors are taken in consideration when it comes to ART and they are: tissue tension, tissue texture, tissue movement, and tissue function. When a tissue doesn’t function properly, pain is often the result within that specific tissue or others, as a compensatory mechanism. Why do some of those factors change within tissue you may wonder? It is usually a result of the everyday stressors we expose our bodies to. For example: An office worker who types for 7 hours a day and reaches in the same direction to pick up the phone. This may not seem like much, but imagine how the body adapts to the same small movements day in and day out for years. It is also common for the athletic population to have some type of soft-tissue dysfunction from the normal wear and tear of the activity.

This past weekend, I had the chance to become a certified ART provider for the upper extremity. This 4-day certification educational program is only offered to healthcare providers such as doctors, chiropractors, physical/occupational therapists, massage therapists, and athletic trainers. It was an amazing educational experience which provided me an additional set of skills in evaluating and treating soft-tissue injuries. It is common for many soft-tissue injuries to be labeled as tendonitis when it is nothing more then adhesions within the tissue that need to be appropriately treated using ART. It can also be used for many postural issues such as forward rounded shoulders and the loss of normal joint range of motion from tissue tightness. I feel ART can have a great impact on not only someone who is injured, but the regular gym-goer or athlete who wants to prevent injury and maintain healthy bodily function.

For more information on ART and if it can help you, contact Garrett or check out the ART website.

Garrett McLaughlin is an Athletic Trainer and Personal Trainer in Nashville, TN. He creates personal training and injury rehabilitation programs for the general population and athletes. Garrett is passionate about not only working one-on-one with clients, but educating them on health & wellness so they can continue making positive choices throughout their lives. Contact Garrett with questions or to schedule a session.

Garrett McLaughlin, MS, ATC, CSCS, ART

Browsing Tags pain

Function Before Fitness: Why Does It Matter?

What is Active Release Techniques?