Why Train Movement?
Movement is ignored by many, if not most, training modalities. Training MOVEMENT is important because it is an elemental and autonomous act. We rarely think when we move. What does that mean? If you have a poor movement pattern and do not know it, you are moving poorly and inefficiently. This may seem like an innocent statement but the research is showing that many pain issues stem from poor movement patterns. Another implication of this statement is that the research (movement.com) shows a poor movement baseline (FMS Screen) is indicative of a 50% increase to potential non-contact injury. Even further, asymmetries increase non-contact injury 50%. If you have both of these issues, it’s not a matter of HOW but WHEN you will be injured…
This is why a paradigm shift to train movement via both the FMS (functionalmovement.com) and Z-Health (zhealth.net) is necessary.
Here is a quick explanation of the FMS:
The Functional Movement Screen was originally developed to gather objective data for statistical analysis of human movement patterns with respect to functional performance and injury prevention.
Research has demonstrated that right-left asymmetries and major limitations can increase injury potential and decrease functional effectiveness.
Currently, there is no tool to effectively track substitution and compensations – most tests are quantitative and not qualitative in nature. Our attempt to add the Functional Movement Screen to current sports medicine and strength and conditioning practices was an attempt to fulfill a void.
- FunctionalMovement.com
The following is a quick explanation of Z-Health:
Z-Health is two things: A Training System & An Educational Company
First and foremost, Z-health is a complete training system that puts you back in control of your own performance. By using the nervous system to rapidly “debug” your movement patterns, you can create lightning-fast improvements in performance. (Plus pain relief, injury prevention, and mindset.)
As an educational company, the goal of Z-Health Performance is to help create professionals in the top 1% of their respective fields. We do this by providing life-long world-class education, coaching, and instruction – providing individuals the framework and tools they need to optimize their health and performance.
-Zhealth.net
Lastly, here is what the above means to you:
Can we agree that we are “wired for survival”? As an organism in which survival is a priority, we rely on our brain to integrate and interpret a tremendous amount of sensory information to answer the question: “Am I in danger? Yes or no?”.
Once the question of safety is addressed, the next question is “where am I (in relation to other things in my environment)” and “what must I do to exploit opportunities in the environment (or defend against threats)”.
In order to answer these questions, your brain demands clarity and familiarity.
Clarity comes from R-Phase practice. Wiggle your index finger; if you were attached to a brain imaging machine – such as an fMRI, a discreet area would “light up” as a representation of that finger. Do the same with your middle finger; a different area would “light up”. If we then taped those two fingers together so they no longer moved independently, those two discreet areas would blur together. The resulting lack of clarity makes it harder to answer the question “where (exactly) am I?”. R-Phase practice is designed to create “separation” between your moving parts.The I-Phase & S-Phase movement templates can then be utilized to allow you to become familiar with positions that you will encounter during life and sports (while integrating visual & vestibular sensory information) – so you can further figure out how to exploit the environment so that you can win (which is of course the ultimate goal).
-Lou McGovern, Master Z-Health Trainer
I hope today’s blog motivated you to train movement.
Remember – You gotta get-up to get down,
Austin Jones
