I am currently studying for my PhysicalMind Institute Tye4® Pilates Certification… the reason for no resent posts lately! Well, I have been reminded – through my studying – how perfectly complex the human body is. I am fascinated by this intricate system i.e. the reason I work in fitness! I love that we have so much knowledge about the body, yet it is totally vulnerable and mysterious. All the parts are arranged in such a way as to work together for perfect function. When one part does not work properly, other areas WILL be effected. Every part depends on another.
Simply put:
- Bones support our body against gravity. We are a lot prettier this way 🙂 Hehehe
- Muscles move the bones
- Tendons connect the muscle to the bone
- Ligaments connect bone to bone and helps stabilize our joints
Now let’s talk ARMS for a minute.
We are able to raise them above our head, easy (considering a healthy shoulder joint). No big deal- not much thought, right? Welllll, let’s take an inward look to see HOW we are able to perform that “simple movement”:
Think about the shoulder blade, or scapula, for now. It stabilizes our shoulder both at rest and in motion. As the arm raises upward, the scapula is responsible for range of motion and support for the arm. It holds the arm to the body so the arm does not dangle!!!
The scapula is an ANCHOR!
As you raise your arm out to the side,
the first 30 degrees is accomplished by the arm alone- moved by the deltoid muscle.
The remaining movement is possible because of the scapula bone.
The muscle that moves this bone is the trapezius in the back.
Raise your arms out to the side and all the way up to your ears.
Think about the back work that is involved.
Now do the same thing but bring the arms in front of you.
Can you feel your scapula move?
— — — STORY TIME — — —
College days at Houston Baptist University
thePLOT
Starting back to practice after volleyball season
So, we were back in the gym after a good Christmas break,
gearing up for training during the off season. We were lifting weight to find our max. This means that we had to lift as much weight as possible, in one lift, for different muscle groups, to find the maximum amount of weight we could lift.
This would allow us to find 60% of our max weight to perform 3 sets, doing 10 repetitions or we could lift 40% of our max weight for 3 sets of 15 repetitions.
Ok, so back to the gym. I was doing the Military Press exercise with a straight bar to find my max.
Military Press Exercise
WEll, it didn’t take long to learn that the weight I was lifting was OVER my max when my shoulder dislocated while holding the weight above my head!!! OOOUUUCCCHHHH! That was too much demand for my trapezius, levator scapulae, and serratus anterior. When they gave way, my shoulder joint lost its support. The rotators in my shoulder clearly couldn’t handle that load and resulted in dislocation. Good news for me: I didn’t tear anything, but I did stretch and strain the tendons and ligaments of my rotator cuff muscles in my shoulder. They were stretched good! For a number of days, I had to support my injured arm with my other hand while I sneezed, coughed, or hick-upped. If I didn’t add that extra support, my shoulder would slide out of joint, and then slide back in. Yes, that was weird! I rehabbed my shoulder with focus – determined to fix it and get back in the gym. After a few weeks and a much stronger shoulder, I dislocated it again 🙁
The doctor said that if it happened again, I would require surgery. Well, let’s not tell the doctor, BUT I dislocated it 5 more times. BOOOO I didn’t want the surgery and decided to live with my limitations.
At this time I had earned my degree in Kineseology and was working as a Fitness Specialist and Group Fitness Instructor at the Memorial Hermann Wellness Center in Houston, Tx.
My boss and mentor Joetta Dickerson (owner of The Pilates Studio Houston and Pilates Instructor to the Houston Rockets Basketball team) started teaching me the art of Pilates. I began studying and practicing TheMethod Pilates. Unknowingly, I rehabbed my shoulder to full range of motion and strength while using the Reformer! Needless to say this kinda hooked me onto Pilates!
Now in 2013: PhysicalMind Institute has created the most inventive Pilates system – TYE4® that functions as a reformer! Reformer classes are expensive and hard to find. Great news: now everyone can take advantage of the benefits that come from balanced, flexibility, joint mobility, core strength, long lean muscle and coordination from the large Pilates apparatus.
Be thankful today for your scapula 🙂
Pay attention to your movement and enjoy the fact that you have such a cool, complex “earth suit” to wear!
