Muscle Imbalance

The relationship between the tone or strength and length of the muscles around a joint is known as muscle balance. When examining an athlete we need to assess stationary and dynamic strength and length. Muscles can be divided into two types: mobilisers and stabilisers. These two groups of muscles have quite different characteristics.

Mobilisers

The mobilisers are found close to the body's surface and tend to cross two joints. They are typically made up of fast twitch fibres that produce power but lack endurance. With time and use, they tend to tighten and shorten. The mobilisers assist rapid or ballistic movement and produce high force.

Stabilisers

Stabilisers, by contrast, are situated deeper, invariably only cross one joint and are made up of slow twitch fibres for endurance. They tend to become weak and long with time. Functionally the stabilisers assist postural holding and work against gravity.

Imbalance

Whilst initially both groups of muscles work in a complementary fashion to stabilise and move, over time the mobilisers can inhibit the action of the stabilisers and begin to move and attempt to stabilise on their own. This inhibition of the stabilisers and preferential recruitment of the mobilisers is central to the development of "imbalance" and is the essence of what we want to detect and if possible reverse.

Balance and Strength

Assessment of an athlete's muscle balance and strength should be conducted on a regular basis.

Associated Pages

The following Sports Coach pages should be read in conjunction with this page:

• Articles on Injury Prevention
• Cryotherapy
• Hot and Cold Contrast Baths
• Injury Prevention
• Muscle Balance
• Muscle Cramp
• Over Training
• Recovery from Training
• Shin Splints
• Stitch

• Training Books
• Training Products

Associated Books

The following books provide more information related to this topic:

• Sports Injuries - A self help Guide, V. Grisogono, ISBN 0 7195 4111 5
• Sport and Remedial Massage Therapy, M. Cash, ISBN 0 09 180956 8
• Advanced Studies in Physical Education and Sport, P Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 4482345
• Physical Education and the Study of Sport, B. Davis et al., ISBN 0 7234 31752
• Essentials of Exercise Physiology, W.D. McArdle et al., ISBN 0 683 30507 7
• Physical Education and Sport Studies, D. Roscoe et al., ISBN 1 901424 20 0
• The World of Sport Examined, P. Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 438719 9
• Advanced PE for Edexcel, F. Galligan et al., ISBN 0 435 50643 9
• Examining Physical Education, K. Bizley, ISBN 0 435 50660 9
• Sport and PE, K Wesson et al., ISBN 0 340 683821
• PE for you, J. Honeybourne, ISBN 0 7487 3277 2