The ITB (ilio-tibial band) is a long, thick band of fascia that runs along the side of the thigh from the hip to the knee. It is a highly overused (and hence tight) muscle, due mainly to strength imbalances and the way we use our bodies in everyday life. This can lead to a range […]
The gluteals muscles (aka the “glutes”, or the bum muscles) consist of 3 main muscles – gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. Glute tension is common in people doing lots of activity such as running or gym work involving lots of squatting. But far from being a condition that only affects athletes, glute tension […]
The pectoral muscles (consisting of pec major and minor) are found at the front of the chest, and are frequently tight in people who spend a lot of their day at a computer (which is most of the population!) Being seated in this position for hours on end causes the shoulders to roll forward and […]
The plantar fascia is a thick layer of connective tissue on the underside of the foot. It frequently becomes tight, often with no apparent cause, and is the primary contributor to ‘plantar fasciitis’, a condition where the fascia in the foot becomes inflamed and aggravated. Excessive weight-bearing activity and fallen arches have both been linked […]
The deltoid muscle is part of the shoulder – it’s like the “cap” over the top of the shoulder joint that gives it the rounded appearance. The posterior (or “back/rear”) part of the deltoid commonly gets tight with overuse, typically with excessive lifting or activites that involve stabilising the shoulder for long periods, such as […]
The rhomboids are a group of muscles that run between the shoulder blade and the spine on each side. Similar to the upper trapezius muscles, they frequently become tight in people who spend long hours at the computer or in a seated posture. Excessive activation of these muscles in repetitive lifting movements is also responsible […]
The gluteals muscles (aka the “glutes”, or the bum muscles) consist of 3 main muscles – gluteus maximus, gluteus medius and gluteus minimus. Glute tension is common in people doing lots of activity such as running or gym work involving lots of squatting. But far from being a condition that only affects athletes, glute tension […]
The trapezius muscle is divided into 3 parts – upper, middle and lower. By far, it is the upper trapezius region that experiences the highest degree of increased tension of the three. It’s the area that almost everyone has tightness in when you poke your thumbs into the back of their neck & shoulders. There […]
The hamstrings are just about the most commonly tight area of the body. Made up of 3 main muscles (biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus), the “hammies” are a source of pain and immobility in a large proportion of the population. Whilst commonly tight in people who do a lot of physical exercise such as running, […]
