Unlocking The Secrets To Pain Relief Through Movement Screens

The movement system of the human body — consisting of muscles, joints, and nerves — operates in a delicate balance of mobility and stability. It supports our frame through a wide range of environments, whether we’re walking, running, or performing everyday tasks.

To appreciate the complexity, consider something as simple as bringing a hot cup of coffee to your mouth. This action involves far more than just flexing your arm. It requires an intricate sequence of movements, all coordinated by your body’s movement system. The muscles must generate just the right amount of tone to ensure steady, controlled motion, while tactile sensations at the fingertips and lips provide constant, unconscious feedback. The entire process unfolds effortlessly, ultimately allowing you to lift the cup with precision.

The Adaptability of the Movement System

An incredible feature of the human movement system is its ability to adapt during injury and pain. In many cases, our body adjusts to discomfort by finding the most comfortable movement pattern, often sacrificing efficiency. But here’s the catch: once the injury heals, these altered movement patterns remain, even if they’re no longer painful. Over time, this inefficiency can lead to secondary “overuse” injuries, as the body compensates for the original impairment.

In fact, one of the leading predictors of musculoskeletal injury is whether a person has experienced a prior injury. This means that your body might be compensating for old issues, resulting in new pain in seemingly unrelated areas.

Identifying Inefficient Movement Patterns with Movement Screens

To uncover these inefficiencies, movement screens can be an invaluable tool. A movement screen is designed to reveal altered or inefficient movements that may be happening at a subconscious level. What may surprise many is that some inefficient movements are strong and non-painful — but they put undue strain on other parts of the body, leading to instability, inflammation, and ultimately, pain.

For example, when performing an overhead reach, many people unknowingly engage in a dysfunctional motor pattern: they shrug their shoulder as they initiate the movement. While this movement might seem strong and painless, it creates compression in the mid-cervical spine, potentially leading to neck pain.

The Power of Rehabilitation Through Movement Screening

Movement screens are not just diagnostic tools — they’re critical to uncovering the root cause of pain and helping to create sustainable solutions. Once an inefficient movement pattern is identified, rehabilitation of that pattern becomes a key part of the healing process. By focusing on correcting these movements, the body can regain proper mobility, reduce strain, and prevent future injuries.

Whether it’s a simple misalignment or an unconscious compensatory movement, addressing these issues early can have a profound impact on your long-term health. Movement screens allow you to identify and correct movement dysfunctions, enabling you to get back to living a healthier, pain-free life while enjoying activities such as exercise with confidence.

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We are the Memphis area’s top-rated chiropractic group, providing you with gentle chiropractic care, dry needle therapy, exercise therapy, and therapeutic massage.

2845 Summer Oaks Dr, Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 377-2340

Life Shouldn't Hurt!

You Deserve To Feel Great. We Can Help!
Your go-to Chiropractor in Memphis, TN

Richard L. Cole, DC, DACNB, DAIPM, FIACN, FICC
Jeffrey D. Luebbe, DC, CCRD, CCSP
W. Steven Vollmer, DC, DAAPM
Bradford J. Cole, DC, MS, CSCS
J. Colby Poston, DC
Daniel H. Smith, DC
2845 Summer Oaks Dr., Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 377-2340

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