Corrective Exercise 的先驱们

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Pioneers of Corrective Exercise

Corrective-exercise techniques have developed over the years thanks to the work and influence of many people and methods. Here is a sampling of some of these influences.

Yoga and Tai Chi
Although yoga was not developed specifically for corrective means, its guiding principles are important to the teachings of corrective exercise (Claire 2003). Yoga poses are designed to facilitate an inward focus on breath and movement. This focused self-awareness is a fundamental tool used by experts today to retrain patterns and create movement awareness. Similarly, tai chi is based on softness of movement and on learning to yield to external forces. Tai chi also focuses on movement awareness, and it strives to teach the student to slow down the force of gravity so that movements flow and interact softly with the contact surface of the ground.

Joseph Pilates
During World War I, Joseph Pilates, a German national interned in England, began developing a system of movements designed to help bedridden patients exercise against resistance. He crafted equipment out of springs from hospital beds, using principles that still underlie the spring tension system used in modern-day Pilates equipment (Isacowitz 2006).

Pilates drew from studies in Eastern practices, such as yoga and Zen, and was well trained in anatomy and physiology (Thompson 2007). He promoted the idea of a body-mind connection with an emphasis on breathing, control, precision and concentration. His methods stressed quality rather than quantity of movement. The exercises focused particularly on muscles such as the abdominals, pelvic stabilizers, gluteals and spinal extensors—much of the musculature that we refer to today as “the core.”

In 1926 Pilates moved to the United States and married Clara, whom he had met on the boat. Together they popularized his program, particularly among dancers. By the 1960s it was being used for warm-ups and dance training all over the U.S. Pilates had many followers and students who subsequently opened their own studios, adding their twists to the method along the way. Today, more than 10 million people worldwide practice Pilates (Thompson 2007).

F.M. Alexander
As Pilates was gaining popularity, a technique developed by F.M. Alexander was also becoming known. Alexander was an Australian-born actor who had suffered from respiratory ailments as a child (Alexander 2000). In an attempt to cure his physical limitations—chronic hoarseness was interfering with his stage performances—he began paying close attention to his body and breath. He noticed that under stress the body reverted to unconscious movements that restricted breathing and other motor functions. Alexander was well educated in the workings of the brain and nervous system. This helped him develop a technique for consciously reprogramming movements by focusing on sending the right signals to the right muscles.

Moshe Feldenkrais
During the early to mid 1900s, Moshe Feldenkrais, who hailed from what is now Ukraine, developed an exercise system to retrain and correct movement imbalances. Feldenkrais practiced jujitsu and judo, and also devised his own self-defense techniques (Reese 2001). His method, based on “awareness through movement” (Shafarman 1997), taught people how to retrain injured or dysfunctional body parts by first becoming more mindful of their movement patterns. Feldenkrais had studied with Alexander and undoubtedly incorporated many of the Alexander principles into his own work.

Modern-Day Massage
Massage has been around for millennia. The medical community formally brought massage into its fold in the mid 1800s. Swedish massage became very popular, and many techniques from that time are still used today. Finnish and Russian influences further expanded the use of massage into sports and neuromuscular therapy.

In the 1950s Margaret Knott and Dorothy Vass developed an advanced stretching technique called proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), which helped improve flexibility and strength (McAtee & Charland 2007). When coupled with massage, PNF is a great technique for correcting movement imbalances and/or restrictions in the soft-tissue structures of the body.

One popular form of massage used for corrective means today is “self myofascial release.” This technique can be credited in part to Janet G. Travell, MD, White House physician during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. Kennedy credited Travell with helping eliminate the terrible myofascial pain he experienced during his political career (Neckman 2007). Self myofascial release involves using a foam roller, a ball or some other specialized equipment to pinpoint and alleviate restrictions, pain or dysfunction in the muscular and fascial systems of the body.

Thomas Hanna, PhD
Thomas Hanna received training from Moshe Feldenkrais and became an expert in the teachings of the Feldenkrais Method®. In 1976, he developed Hanna Somatic Education®, which focuses on training body-mind integration (Hanna 2004). Somatic education teaches the individual to take responsibility for the process of retraining the body while learning to master both physical and mental stressors. Hanna, who died in a car crash in 1990, proposed that the body adapts to protect or ready itself against daily stressors and that over time our neuromuscular system can no longer relax (see the sidebar “Red Light, Green Light” below for more information).

Paul Chek
Paul Chek, founder of the California-based C.H.E.K Institute, is a corrective and high-performance exercise coach who has developed a unique holistic approach to corrective exercise that considers physiological, biological, sociological and psychological factors. This is an advancement in the approach to corrective exercise, as it places primary emphasis on evaluating the underlying nonphysical causes of physical dysfunction (Chek 2005). In trying to scientifically prove the validity and effectiveness of corrective exercise, Chek developed and patented calibrating devices for measuring components of posture. This has helped prove the distinct benefits of corrective exercise.

Others
Many other notable and respected fitness professionals are currently meeting the demand for corrective-exercise education and information. While by no means an exhaustive list, people such as Anthony Carey, MA; Gray Cook, MSPT; Gary Gray, PT; Lenny Parracino; Greg Roskopf, MA; and Chuck Wolf, MS, have added depth and integrity to this growing area of fitness and wellness with their well-researched and effective approaches.

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