So, as you no doubt recall perfectly because all my dear readers cling to my every word, remember every detail and wait with baited breath until my next blog post… we finished the last post with me coming away from my first biomechanics session with Lorna from Wilson’s Workouts with a set of four exercises that I needed to repeat four times per day.
For the next two weeks, I did exactly that. The exercises are relatively simple – two of them I could do sitting down, one is performed leaning against a wall, and the final one involved lying on the floor. “Exercises” is also a very active name for them – they’re essentially static. I did them in work clothes before heading to the office without any problem at all.
Also, the first few days of exercises actually left me a little sore. While they’re not heavy or hard, they are aimed at correcting spasms and incorrect movement, so biomechanical corrections are occurring. The body notices and feels that, or that was my experience at least.
And what about improvements? It’s hard to tell immediately… as time went on, I definitely felt a little easier during my runs, as though my legs came through a little more smoothly and followed through a little higher and easier. Anecdotally, I also became much more aware of my body, my posture and how I could hold myself more efficiently and healthily, not only during exercises or workouts but during every day normal life too.
Anyway, I stuck to the program and did my exercises 3-4 times per day every day for the two weeks – even while away for a long weekend in Portugal. Then, last week, I headed back to see Lorna for my second appointment.
We started by chatting about some of the above and then Lorna put me through all the same tests that we went through two weeks earlier. The results were obvious and positive, with the vast majority of the pelvic instability and inefficiency having been completely remedied…
Again, I came away from the session with four exercises – aimed at getting more lateral flexion through the spine and, in addition this time, correcting a lack of full range of motion through the shoulders. The exercises are similarly simple, take a similar amount of time, and need to be done 3-4 times per day. Certainly, having seen the improvements made over the past two weeks, it makes it easier for me to stay focused and motivated for continuing with these new exercises for the next two weeks.
I guess there are a bunch of people reading who are now thinking: “so what, you passed a test... but what does that actually mean?” It’s a totally valid question.
With these three sessions, I guess we’re working on the biggest biomechanical points within the body – pivots like the pelvis, the spine and the shoulders, on which the vast majority of other movements, such as swimming, biking, running, jumping etc are all based.
By making sure that my biomechanics are efficient, functioning correctly and that I have a fairly full range of motion, it means that – going forward – my form and technique will be far better in every activity I do, from running a 10k to picking up a shopping bag. That, in turn, means reduced chance of injury and, hopefully – as I will be sure that I’m using the correct muscles, with full range of motion, and that movements aren’t being blocked by limited range of spasming muscles – I’ll also have access to extra power in the pool, on the bike and on the road. Faster times!
That’s the plan at least. For now, I’m just enjoying my better posture and body awareness. I will, of course, keep you all posted how the next round of biomechanics coaching goes and what benefits (if any) I see.
If you’re interested in Biomechanics Coaching and based in the Netherlands, you can contact Lorna HERE or HERE.
Learn more about the theory behind Biomechanics Coaching HERE.