Muscle imbalances related to indoor rock climbing/bouldering and ways to fix them?
2 min read
Asked by: Chris Peterson
Does climbing cause muscle imbalance?
Climbers commonly experience uneven shoulder strength, which can be noticeable when locking off. Also uneven forearm strength. And tight chest muscles due to overdeveloped lats. Imbalances can cause tendonitis, muscle strain, and rotator cuff injuries, and poor posture and subsequent back and neck pain.
Can muscle imbalance be corrected?
Imbalances can often be corrected through exercise. A 2015 study on elite fencers showed that the heavy use of lunging while fencing results in an imbalance of the lower and upper limb muscles. By improving global muscle balance, the fencers’ lower extremity balance was improved during sport.
What muscles does rock climbing not work?
Often neglected muscles include the pectorals, hand extensors, triceps, many leg muscles. Besides the hope to avoid injury, you’ll see these muscles come up occasionally, but necessarily when climbing.
How do you restore muscle imbalance?
5 Ways To Correct Muscle Imbalance
- Use unilateral exercises.
- Start with the weaker side.
- Let the weaker side set your workout volume.
- Do additional work on the weaker/smaller side.
- Fix the underlying problem i.e. mobility/flexibility.
Who can help with muscle imbalances?
The physical therapist will start you on a progressive course of treatment that is designed to rebalance your muscles by: Strengthening the weak muscles with exercises using stretch bands, weight machines, and free weights: On one side of your body to equalize function. Within an opposing muscle group.
How do you realign your body?
Or your doctor for help. Today. I'm gonna look for the assistance of my therapy roller. The therapy roller is just a very simple roller that's made of foam.
Why do muscle imbalances occur?
Muscle imbalance occurs when overused muscles become stronger than less active muscles around them, including the muscles that work together while running. The stronger muscles overcompensate for the weaker ones.
How do I know if I have muscle imbalance?
Warning signs of a muscle imbalance include:
- Training in only one sport or targeting only one muscle group.
- Poor posture.
- Noticeable difference in strength, flexibility or balance on one side of the body versus the other side.
- Pain is not connected to a specific injury.
Should I worry about muscle imbalance?
Muscle imbalance is sometimes natural and not worrisome, however, if it’s recently becoming more noticeable, you should definitely take action. Severe imbalance between different muscle groups and between your right and left side limbs might put you at risk of injury or pain.
