Stop Muscle Imbalances Before They Stop Your Teen!

In addition to a blog post about my teenage son, Aiden, and his progress throughout his care with us, I wanted to focus primarily on muscle imbalances and their influence on adolescents, those aged 10 to 19, but notably those active in sports. Because of the distinct developmental and physiological changes that occur throughout adolescence, imbalances can have specific implications on this age group. Understanding this can help adolescent athletes thrive in their sport by preventing pain and optimising performance.

 

Muscle imbalance occurs when opposing muscles support a joint unequally, or when the left and right-side muscles contribute unevenly.  Unsupported joints can cause abnormal motion, cartilage wear, tendon stress/damage, muscle tears, and joint instability, resulting in inflammation, pain, and degeneration. When primary muscles don't function properly, the brain directs nearby muscles to support and move the joint, which can cause further pain or injury and deflect from the original problem.

 

These imbalances specifically impact adolescents in the following ways:

•     Physical Development: 

o   Growth Spurts – rapid growth spurts can cause muscle imbalances when bones grow faster than muscles and tendons can adapt. This can lead to abnormal movement patterns and increased injury risk.

o   Bone Development – muscle imbalances can generate uneven stress on growing bones, leading to growth plate injuries and chronic issues.

•     Athletic Performance:

o   Skill Acquisition – adolescence is a pivotal time for building muscle memory and motor skills, and imbalances can impede the correct acquisition of these abilities, impacting performance and potential.

o   Performance Plateaus – when an athlete's progress stalls, even with consistent training, it can be disheartening and discouraging.

•     Injury Risk:

o   Increased Risk – adolescents are more vulnerable to injuries such as Osgood-Schlatter disease, Sever's disease, and stress fractures due to muscular imbalances. These injuries can cause losses in athletic development and require longer recovery times.

o   Joint Stability – in the developing bodies of adolescents, imbalances can compromise joint stability, thereby increasing the risk of joint-related injuries such as sprains and dislocations

•     Psychological and Emotional Impact

o   Ongoing pain or frequent injuries that requires time off may cause young athletes to feel sidelined or unable to perform at their best, leading to frustration, anxiety, and even depression.  Performance issues can have an impact on an adolescent's self-esteem both inside and outside of sports.

 

Muscle imbalances, if not addressed during adolescence, can develop into chronic musculoskeletal disorders in adulthood, jeopardising long-term health and athletic ability. Improper movement patterns developed throughout the adolescent years can become integrated in the brain and limit sports performance in the long run. Early detection is essential, as is a customised treatment plan that focuses on activating and strengthening muscles that aren't doing their job. This can be accomplished through improving the messaging at the source, the brain, to ensure that it receives and then sends all of the information required to achieve the desired function in the targeted muscles. When the body is moving in a balanced and accurate manner, the next step is to use soft tissue therapy to treat the muscles that are still limiting movement due to guarding, compensations, or incorrect messages.

 

Recognising and treating muscle imbalances, particularly during adolescence, can help young athletes maintain their physical health as their bodies grow, enhance their performance, and have an overall positive sports experience. Arrange an Initial Consultation with one of our clinicians if you are a parent of a child who participates in sports. We can help determine if your child has any muscular imbalances and, more importantly, help to prevent pain and symptoms from even developing. If you are currently a member, we offer FREE treatment to those family members under the age of 16. By correcting muscular imbalances before they cause pain or symptoms, beginning treatment adolescents is an excellent strategy to prevent back, neck, shoulder, or knee problems in the future.