Mobilizing and Stabilizing

The muscles and ligaments that move us are the same muscles and ligaments that stabilize us. They do this by continually changing roles as we move through our day. These roles are assigned neurologically and are always in flux. Mobilizing is called “agonist” function and stabilizing is called “antagonist” function. 

 

Mobilization and stabilization have an intimate relationship. Muscles are in constant communication with each other, reading the moment and making adjustments as we go.

 

When we throw a ball, the muscles behind the shoulder that cocked the arm back must make a quick adjustment in their role from agonist to antagonist, with perfect timing, to hold the shoulder together against the force of the throw. 

 

If they fail to do this effectively, one possible consequence is that as the arm throws the ball, it might also pull the head of the humerus forward in the socket where it could create strain on the ligament in the front of the shoulder. This injury, a tear of the bicipital ligament, is called bicipital tendinitis and is a common throwing injury.

 

This is an example of the differentiation between diagnosis and evaluation. The diagnosis, bicipital tendinitis, is a description of the injury and is reasonably correct. But the diagnosis doesn’t really explain what happened. The bicipital ligament tore because it happened to be in the line of fire, but an evaluation might show that the injury is due to the failure of the muscles and ligaments in the back of the shoulder to effectively stabilize the arm against the force of the throw. These muscles and ligaments often show no sign of injury. In this case, treatment of the biceps ligament might have value, but is not likely to improve the future ability to throw a ball without pain. 

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This dynamic can affect the forearm or the wrist, or the opposite hip, knee, or back. Anything can affect everything.

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A body moves best when it is stabilizing best. 

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