Home | Training | Articles | Diet | Alan | Exercise - BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS | Links Biomechanical Analysis Truly expert knowledge of the science of Biomechanics and Human Movement is vitally important, and a basic requirement for providing individually tailored programs in personal training. All humans move in a unique fashion and the trainer must be able to observe the range of motion and postural alignments particular to the client before them to very refined degree. Mechanical analysis is a process of skilled and meticulous observation. Take the following example. Planting down the foot in a certain misaligned way can cause referred reactions in the opposite shoulder and middle back, or immediately affect any arm movement that may follow. All these reactions could appear to be perfectly acceptable, or even missed completely, by a standard trainer. However, to an analyst they are highly significant evidence of possible ongoing physical injury. In depth movement analysis should always be fully completed before even a finger is lifted in any form of exercise program, as progressive and injury free exercise programming is dependent upon total familiarity with a client’s movement patterns and physiological make-up. Therefore, an initial comprehensive head to foot ‘range of motion’ (ROM) test is vital to the most basic personalised exercise prescription. Lack of expert knowledge in this field by the instructor produces a generalised and non-specific program. Furthermore, these exercise regimes, when lacking the basic ROM foundation, can literally escalate hidden physical injury or create new problems, thus causing sub clinical damage. Sub clinical damage takes place continuously without the sufferer ever actually realising it, until such time as the unseen problems reach a point where they cause conscious, physical pain. It then becomes known as clinical damage, and will require remedial attention, extended rest periods or regressive changes in schedules in order to allow healing to take place. All this can easily be avoided if you ensure your trainer has advanced knowledge in biomechanics. This caution is of particular relevance to those who have suffered past trauma or injury, or who may be returning to exercise after a long period of absence. Anyone who has not exercised regularly at any time previously is particularly vulnerable, believing any pain or discomfort to be the natural result of a new physical activity. To avoid common physical trauma from inadequately refined exercise regimes provided in sports centres, gymnasiums and health clubs, ensure that your prospective personal trainer is a qualified biomechanist of senior qualification. Without such refined sports science skills, there is a much greater possibility that you could suffer sub clinical trauma in the future. The choice is entirely yours, so consider your wellbeing in even 5-10 years time. Do you really want to run the risk of possible musculo-skeletal traumas appearing, instigated by the ‘blanket’ exercise program regimes given to all and sundry? Alternatively, let an expert guide you safely within your own unique capabilities and movement ranges. Choose an advanced biomechanist who can detect and interpret the physiological significance and consequence of even your smallest movement as you exercise. This level of professionalism will keep you safe now, and in the future, as you move closer to your fitness goals and healthier lifestyle You can contact Alan by telephone on  07833 110364