The term Corrective Exercise is used by many and depending on who you study, it can mean different things.
As a Level IV C.H.E.K. Practitioner, to me, Corrective Exercise is Paul Chek’s method of balancing bodies and is a critical part of how I help people.
Once an individual has progressed through the Corrective Exercise phase, she/he will be ready to take on more functional exercises that will specifically support their activities and goals.
My primary goal with people is to reduce stress by removing stressors. One large stressor that people are generally not aware of is exercise. Contrary to popular belief, not all exercise is good for you. If your exercise program is not balanced or you have musculoskeletal issues, you may be doing more harm than good.
Forward Head Posture, for example, is a major stress on the body, disrupting many subsystems.
If you have forward head posture and you are doing push-ups, for example, you are creating significant stress in your neck. In addition to the stress through your cervical spine, your forward head posture will change the position of your shoulder complex and thoracic spine creating stress points throughout your body. Even lower back pain can be created by forward head posture as your center of gravity moves forward and puts unnatural wear and tear on your lumbar region.
In my Corrective Exercise Programs, after a detailed assessment, I work to correct misalignment’s that contribute to poor movement quality, pain, and physical stress. It often consists of corrective stretches and mobilization to align the body and then is immediately followed by corrective exercises to make the new alignment “stick”. It is a gradual process and over time I see my clients get taller, have better posture, feel better, move better, have more energy and of course, get stronger in the movements they need and value for their daily activities, sport or recreation.
Corrective Exercise is the key to building a solid foundation for posture and movement. With this foundation people often look taller and younger…with foundational strength, people have more youthful energy and useful strength. Without addressing one’s corrective needs and imbalances, the likelihood of developing an injury during movement or halting progression towards one’s goals, is greatly increased.