Movement is Math!

This is a chapter from my upcoming book:  "The Book on Movement, Vol1"

Movement is Math

“Movement is math.  The body follows a sequential series of steps in every movement.  If any part of this movement is wrong, the whole movement is wrong, just like a math equation."

                                                                                              -Dr. Kevin McGovern, PT

The human body will always do what you tell it to do.  But, the problem is that the human body will always do what you tell it to do!

Simply put , the body is an amazing tool with tremendous fortitude to get the job done at any cost.

We all remember our Algebra teacher who graded us on the equation not just getting the correct answer.  Even if by the Grace of God you got the right answer, if the work done in the equation was not correct then the answer was wrong.  This is the exact same rule for human movement.  If any part of the movement is wrong, despite how good the finish may look, it’s wrong.

The body will always get the FINAL answer correct but the equation or sequence of movements is most often wrong or I would not have a job.  Basically the body will move through dysfunction at any cost to get the final answer or the job done.  That is what makes the body the best and worst machine ever made.

I call this “functionally dysfunctional”.  The body knows the correct way to move but falls into very bad habits of poor movement, which directly lead to injury and poor performance.

These poor movements, to a greater or lesser extent, are the cause of ALL injury including trauma.

What?  Trauma?  Yes, Trauma.  I assert that if you knew how to move correctly, you would not be in a position to get injured or you would know how to move better and avoid the injury in the first place. 

Improve the math, improve the movement and improve your health.  It’s a law.

What law?  The laws of Kinesiology.  The science of human movement.  These laws have been published and know to mankind for years, yet, we as a society, continue to violate them everywhere human movement exists to produce a result.

Sports, industry, healthcare, and fitness training violates the principles of Kinesiology every day.  That includes my colleagues.  That includes the AAU baseball coach, the gymnastics coach, the martial arts instructor, etc. etc.

It can’t be?

Look at the results. 

Keep this in mind: “A person should train to stay healthy and improve physical or sport performance.  If one or both of these results are not happening, the training is wrong and most definitely violates kinesiology”

Go online and look at what is being sold to you. Really think about the quote above.  Is what they are selling you working?

I saw an alleged guru on the Internet.  I won’t say what sport but his products are flooded in one certain sport.  His website has a “who’s who” of that sport.  The issue is that most of his athletes are out of that sport because of the injuries that this guru professes to fix!

I have seen the products and the videos.  Guess what they violate?

Yup.

Kinesiology or what I call the Kinesiolgical Sequence. 

All of the movements that I witnessed were distal to proximal. 

That is like trying to drive your car forward in reverse.  

Movement is math!  You can’t violate this law in any movement that you do.

TRAIN TO STAY HEALTHY and IMPROVE PERFORMANCE.  This is now a law!  It’s my book.  So I can do that because that phrase helps you. The above, is what you should demand from any therapist, personal trainer, “guru”, or your own doctor.

If you were an athlete, try and remember how many times the proximal to distal law was violated in your experience.  Did the coaching or training make you healthier or improves your performance? 

I am certain that it did not.

Why do I say all this?  LOOK at the results.

Here are a few to think about:

In 2018 there were 2 NBA basketball players who jumped up and came down never the same.  One with a shattered ankle, the other with a blown out ACL.  I am wondering why that doesn’t happen to a figure skater?  They land on a 1/8 in blade on ice after doing crazy spinning movements.  Can you name a knee or ankle injury to a famous skater?  THAT’s a RESULT of training!

I will get off my soapbox with this one.

There are far too many baseball pitchers every year who injury their elbow and need Tommy John Surgery.  My tennis memories go back to Borg and McEnroe.  I can’t remember one tennis player injuring their elbow and needing Tommy John Surgery….hmmmm….Kinesiolgical Sequence!  Results!