3 insights you’ll gain from a full body assessment in your 50s

For 22 years, every clinical exercise and Pilates program at MD Health has begun the same way—with a Full Body Assessment (FBA). But what makes this step so essential?

Because the only way we can customise a specific program for your needs and goals is to get a very good idea of all your major joints, muscles and all the main structures around your body. That way the exercises and treatments get a real chance to address your issues and reduce the risk of further injury in the long term.

More specifically, we will look at the following:

1. Your major area of concern

Most of the time, people come to see us when they have a specific injury or area of concern, such as ongoing lower back pain. This must be assessed properly in order to implement the correct exercises and treatment that will improve the injury and not make the problem worse.

For example, one of the most common causes of lower back pain is a lumbar disc bulge. In general, this means that the body will prefer backwards (extension based) exercises and will get worse with forwards (flexion based movements). The most common Pilates exercises, such as hundreds are likely to aggravate this issue and make the problem worse.

One of the most common causes of lower back pain is a lumbar disc bulge. In most cases, the body responds better to backward (extension-based) exercises, while forward (flexion-based) movements can worsen the condition. For example, popular Pilates exercises such as “hundreds” often put excessive strain on the lower back, potentially aggravating the issue rather than improving it.

Understanding the main cause of your injury and adjusting the exercises and treatments accordingly will mean the difference between a great outcome and making your problem worse.

2. Knowing and addressing the other areas around the body that may contribute to the injury

Rarely does an injury occur in isolation. A client may be concerned about their lower back pain, but often other areas also contribute to the problem.

Very commonly, back and hip problems go hand in hand. Issues around the hip will impact on the activation of the muscles around the hip. Irritation of the hip will reduce the activation and strength of the gluteus medius and maximus muscles, which are major power muscles that support the lower back as well.

Weakness in the gluteal muscle groups increases the load required of the lumbar stabilising muscles and increasing the risk of back injury. Therefore, to make a long term change in back issues, it is also important to work on the strength and control of the muscles around the hip.

3. Other areas to be aware of, but not contributing to current issues

We will often discover other problems during your Full Body Assessment that you may not be aware of, but can impact your program.

For example, a common yet often overlooked injury is a past ankle ligament tear. While it may have seemed minor at the time, many people never complete a full rehabilitation program. As a result, even years later, they may experience reduced mobility and balance issues.

Although this is not an immediate issue, it affects the loads on the knees, hips, running and balance. It is usually not our primary focus at the start of your program, but something we will need to address further into your program to get the best long term outcome. 

Do you have any questions?

Call us on (03) 9857 0644 or (07) 3505 1494 (Paddington)

Email us at admin@mdhealth.com.au

Check out our other blog posts here

Our clinical staff would be happy to have chat if you have any questions.