Greater than the Sum of Your Parts
Nothing exists in isolation, this is true of pretty much every aspect of nature that we know of, including human anatomy and movement. The phrase “it’s all connected” comes to mind, one that most of us have probably used at some point in time. We use those words somewhat tongue and cheek, but the reality is that every aspect of our body is connected to every other, and if we want to change how we move that principle is critical.
Let’s look at one aspect of motion that we can zoom in on and then zoom back out. The ankle is an area that tends to get isolated when we lose access to particular movement strategies. For instance, when a person cannot squat without moving into what is called a hinge (imagine a bend at the waist versus the knees) ankle dorsiflexion range of motion is often called to attention. The ability to bring the top of your foot toward your shin, aka dorsiflexion, might be assessed and determined to be the limiting factor in squatting capabilities. A number of exercises and manual therapies could be employed to alter the available range of motion in an effort to restore squatting mobility. Looking at ankle mobility is reasonable in this case, and honestly beyond what most movement specialists would do, however the ankle region alone is most likely not solely responsible for the lack of squatting capabilities.
Systemic movement patterns, positions and strategies all combine to create the shape we see during a hinge-like squat. This includes the ankle, and also every single joint all the way up to the head. None of them is capable of acting alone, and they are all interdependent on one another to produce a movement we observe. Altering how the body organizes itself to create movement may be a more useful intervention. This could include compound movements like rolling, using activities that reduce the gravitational demands to allow for joint movement, or targeting specific area via manual therapy to free up places that may be stubbornly stiff. Every case is unique and requires tailored approaches, however the idea that the entire body contributes to movement should be the thought driving interventions.
All movement requires an interplay of tissues, joints and motivations to develop a shape that is conducive to our aim in a given moment. Attempting to isolate an area in hopes of changing a systemic movement strategy could result in the desired outcome, however the probability is lower than if we targeted the body as a whole. Every client requires an individualized program, and that makes all the difference.
Austin Ulrich, Physical Therapist
