Improve your flexibility and range of movement with Core Clinic's physiotherapists at our Albany, North Shore clinic
Flexibility is defined for a joint or a group of joints as its range of motion (ROM), or degree of extension that its tissues are capable of. Muscle tightness essentially reduces the ROM that a limb can achieve, ultimately effecting performance. With this reduced ROM, you are more likely to sustain injuries or ‘tears’ to muscles and structures around the joint when forced into larger ranges. For example, if a rugby player has tight neck muscles and limited neck movement and is tackled or performs a tackle, which moves his head beyond the already limited ROM, these muscles are more likely to be damaged.
Muscles can become tight for many reasons. If you have weakness around a joint, the muscles may become stiff to try and add more stability to the area. Overuse or a heavy session at the gym can also cause tightness due to the micro-trauma inflicted on the muscles. Furthermore, a heavy roll of the ankle can result in muscle guarding/tightness of the lower limb limiting your ankle mobility. Conditions affecting the brain/nerve routes can also lead to increased muscle tone (e.g. Multiple Sclerosis).
Tightness around the joints means that they are more prone to injury. This can be vastly improved with work from a physiotherapist. Here at Core Clinic your physiotherapist can provide massage and a stretching regime, which has been shown to be the best preventative measure for tightness around joints as well as work on the movement of the joint itself reducing discomfort following exercise and injuries resulting from them.
Additionally, Core Clinic offers dry needling; a technique based on western principles and research involving small, solid filament needles being inserted into taut muscle fibres to immediately help release muscle tension and improve flexibility. This can result in immediate improvements in flexibility, i.e. a 20-30 degree improvement in a straight leg raise within the space of one session!
So if you find you have flexibility issues following injury or simply you are finding a tough time having adequate range of motion for that squat your doing in the gym, come see one of the physios at Core Clinic!
