Functional Training Coach.com

The fitness training industry is constantly changing and because of this we’re always learning new things

Take for example, most of what we know about assessing muscle imbalances

We know that a tight agonist usually is accompanied by a weak antagonist

This is obvious in the classic “bench press posture” that commonly exists in many of our own clients where tightness of the muscles involved with internal rotation and protraction of the shoulders results in weakness of the muscles involved with external rotation and retraction of the shoulders

But, have you ever wondered if a muscle can be both weak AND tight at the same time?

Is it even possible?

I’ve chased this thought around and around in my head a number of times over the years after assessing clients who present what appears to be BOTH muscle tightness and muscle weakness in the same muscle(s)

Huh?

You’re probably thinking right now…”Here he goes again with one of his off-the-wall philosophies”

But, as odd as it sounds I have to admit that a lot of times I notice muscle weakness and tightness in the same muscle(s)

Before you think you’re lost in a bad twilight zone episode here (music cue here) I’ll try to explain what I mean…

…Tight muscles are usually thought of as dominant muscles

However, with extreme muscle tightness there are much fewer actin-myosin cross bridge attachments available (and less space for the joint segment to move) which results in decreased force production capability

The result is often decreased mobility and muscle weakness

And, it’s the same for severe muscle weakness with a slightly different twist…

…Weak muscles are less capable of generating proper force production and, therefore, lack the ability to produce sufficient force to create movement.

Over time the decreased ability to move the limb or segment the weak muscle(s) controls results in muscle stiffness as the muscle adapts to the same length

As you can see, it’s not always an either or situation when assessing a client as we have thought for so long

Now, this isn’t to say that EVERY tight muscle is weak and vice-versa, but it does lend some insight into how both muscle tightness and muscle weakness can occur together

Here’s where I would like to hear YOUR feedback

Do you have a client who presents both muscle tightness and weakness of the same muscle(s)? If so, I’d like you to briefly describe it below and let me know what special training techniques or exercises you’ve used to address it

The fitness industry and personal training is always evolving…

always progressing…

…what we know today, we gain a better understanding of tomorrow and by sharing what we learn as fitness professionals with each other makes us stronger

It helps us expand our knowledge and lifts us beyond the common perception that we just “take people through workouts”

By improving the art of client assessment and program design we have the power to help change lives

I hope you’ll share your feedback below

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