Biomechanical related pain refers to the pain caused as a direct result of how your body (bio) moves (mechanics). Due to poor biomechanics, the involved joints/muscles/nerves undergo forces they are not familiar with, causing irritation and aggravation of the area and PAIN.
In short biomechanical pain is that niggling pain that comes and goes but never goes for good!
Generally, there is no specific structure or tissue damage that causes the pain and the pain often only comes on during or after activities that expose the imbalance/motor control issues such as running, cycling, gym training or sport.
The nature of biomechanical related pain makes it a very frustrating condition and can take longer to resolve compared to pain caused by a specific structure or tissue from strains, sprains, and tears.
The classic presentation we see are those who have been experiencing ongoing “niggling” pain for some time. They report the pain can completely go away for a period but will return. This can often coincide with momentum in training or exercise which makes it EVEN MORE FRUSTRATING!
If left untreated these “niggles” and “aches” will result in altered movement patterns and compensation strategies that become ingrained and have a snowball effect.
The 4 most common areas where biomechanical related pain is experienced are:
- Knees
- Lower Back
- Shoulders
- Feet
The most important piece of the biomechanical related pain puzzle is the underlying cause of the pain.
Commonly, the area of underlying cause is not the same area of pain ie: poor biomechanics in hip resulting in knee pain. This is not to be confused with referred pain, think of it more of a flow on effect…….poisoning the water upstream that effects those downstream drinking it………
The 4 key aspect to resolving biomechanical related pain and “niggles” for GOOD!
- IDENTIFY the underlying cause ie: poor hip control resulting in the knee collapsing inwards with running resulting in knee pain – no point trying to treat the knee to resolve the pain.
- MODIFY training and activities to a level where correct biomechanics are performed and STAY HERE
- RE-TRAIN the imbalance and improve the motor control deficits to promote correct biomechanics
- RELOAD Progressively increase training and activity loads to match that of your level of motor control. This will ensure you safely progress back to 100% and you have the correct biomechanics to resolve the niggles and aches for good.
