Muvmethod Instructor Part - II Are your postural muscles holding you back? Postural muscles are a set of muscles that are designed to stabilize and mobilize the body. These muscles are designed for endurance and are the most utilized set of muscles in the dance population.
For more details on our products and services, please feel free to visit us at Yoga meets dance, Yoga poses for athletes & Yoga benefits for athletes The postural muscles are meant to support and work with the deep core stabilizing muscles and phasic, or outer unit, muscles of the body. However, if the deep core muscles and the phasic muscles aren’t working properly the postural muscle will take over and work as stabilizers and mobilizers. In other words they start to do all the work! The result is tightness, pain, reduced flexibility and mobility. Examples of postural muscles are: • • • • • • • • •
Levator Scapulae Upper Trapezius Scalenes Erector Spinae Hamstrings Iliopsoas Rectus Femoris Piriformis Adductors
These muscles are made up of 51% or more of slow twitch fibers. Postural muscles are tonic in make up, which means they are designed to contract at lower loads for long periods of time. They have a greater capacity for sustained work but are prone to shorten due to overuse, underuse, force and trauma. Postural muscles can become hyperactive, tight and painful at times. If the postural muscles are tight so is the surrounding fascia. This affects the way we carry ourselves, flexibility, mobility, balance, alignment and posture. The treatment for this is to release and relax. The deep core stabilizing muscles consist of: • • •
Transversus Abdominis Multifidus Diaphragm