The human body is designed in halves, split down the middle by the spine, it is ideally a mirror image and what one side does should be matched by the opposite (In both range of motion and strength). A helpful tool I have found in my time as a physiotherapist when treating individuals with injuries and pain with certain movements in the gym is the use of cameras or mirrors while performing said task.
For example, if you have hip, knee or back pain when squatting, set up a camera behind you while you perform the motion and watch for any sideways shift of the body while descending or differences in the movement of each knee. If there is a shift on the descent phase or one knee angles in more so than the other it may be contributing to the pain experienced as the spine, hips and knee are being loaded unevenly creating imbalance in the body.
If an asymmetry is identified the next step is to come into a physiotherapist to assess the ranges of joints such as the hip, ankle and knee and strength of the core, glutes and quadriceps to determine where the deficit is hiding. We will give you targeted exercises and stretches depending on the findings and adjust techniques of your current activities to allow you to keep training rather than the typical rest that some people suggest
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Author – 
Luke Tamanini (MGS Manly)
Luke has had a variety of experience in treating people with pains and injuries training within gym settings, he previously had the opportunity to work within a gym as a Physiotherapist which gave him great access to learn in depth analysis of movements and patterns. He enjoys not only helping treat the pain itself but assessing lifting techniques and biomechanics with the proper tools to understand the fundamentals of how an injury occurred and more importantly give people the correct advice to prevent it from recurring.
Luke has undertaken various dry needling practice’s and courses to assist my manual therapy treatment with patients to allow them to alleviate their pain and improve their mobility and really enjoy the immediate positive responses that my clients experience following this treatment.
Luke currently plays Rugby Union captaining a 1st Grade squad, so he knows personally both the physical and mental challenges of suffering injuries in sport and the importance of returning to the competition as soon as possible. As well as experiencing first-hand many injuries and recovery times for myself and teammates.
When the weather is nice he enjoys doing the Manly to Shelly ocean swim in his lunch breaks to refresh and rest my mind for the afternoon ahead.
Click here to learn more about Luke.