Ankle Pain? IT could be from your your hip, knee or somewhere else-

how the kinetic chain affects joint pain

If you are over 40, most likely you experience some joint pain from time to time. Regular exercises can reduce joint pain, but it is going to happen to all of us at some point. Understanding what is causing our pain can seem complicated. We assume that knee pain is due to something wrong with our knee. Having ankle pain? Maybe you injured your ankle. However, if you understand a little about your body’s kinetic chain, you may discover that your problem originates from some other place in your body.

First you must understand the basic kinetic chain and why it is even important to us. While our body is made of many parts, their ability to function optimally is dependent on how all of the other parts function. Think of your skeletal and muscular system as gears that intricately work together to allow you to move. If there is a problem with one gear affect how one or more of the other gears performs their job. Here are some examples: weak glutes- low back pain, tight hips- knee pain, neck pain- shoulder injury, flat feet- knee pain. Our joints and muscles all depend on each other to work correctly. If there is tightness or imbalance in one part of your body, another part will pick up the slack. While that is an impressive job from our body, in the end it causes greater problems.

How can we learn what is going on with our bodies and how to fix it? If you plan to start an exercise program with a trainer, they should do a full assessment of your form on key exercises (squats, plank. back extension, pushup, scapular slides, etc…), ask you where you feel tight or achy and have a knowledge of what might be the root cause of your pain or tension. There are range of motion exercises I have clients perform to assess their mobility and that can give me a greater insight to what may be causing their pain. Over time, you can learn where your body stores tension and how to release that to reduce pain.

Joint pain and muscle tension don’t have to be a way of life when you are over 40. Having a knowledgeable professional get you started on a plan that is specific to your body, can make a huge difference in how you move and feel as you age. If you are interested in learning more contact me and we can start you on a plan to get you free of unnecessary pain and tension.