FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENTS: POSTURE, MOVEMENT, CORE, BALANCE, AND FLEXIBILITY
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ACE PERSONAL TRAINER MANUAL
a. Lordosis: increased anterior lumbar curve from neutral
Figure 7-2 Postural deviations
may be dysfunctional. Although movement screens offer valuable information related to neuromuscular efficiency, a static postural assessment is considered very useful and serves as a starting point from which a personal trainer can identify muscle imbalances and potential movement compensations associated with poor posture (Kendall et al., 2005; Sahrmann, 2002). A static posture assessment may offer valuable insight into: • Muscle imbalance at a joint and the working relationships of muscles around a joint ü Muscle imbalance often contributes to dysfunctional movement.
• Altered neural action of the muscles moving and controlling the joint ü For example, tight or shortened muscles are often overactive and dominate movement at the joint, potentially disrupting healthy joint mechanics (the concept of neural hypertonicity is covered in Chapter 9).
THINK IT THROUGH
Carefully read through the information presented in Tables 7- 1 through 7-3. Because the postures depicted are common deviations, you are likely to observe clients with one or more of these variants. Think about methods you would employ as a personal trainer to help clients with these muscle imbalances. Can you come up with at least one stretch for each tight muscle group and one strengthening exercise for each inhibited muscle group?
b. Kyphosis: increased posterior thoracic curve from neutral
c. Flat back:
decreased anterior lumbar curve
d. Sway back: decreased anterior lumbar curve and increased posterior thoracic curve from neutral
e. Scoliosis: lateral spinal curvature often accompanied by vertebral rotation
