Lack of Core Strength Causing Flexibility Issues?

I figure I post here since some of you BB guys have this stuff down to a science. 1 week ago I went to a Physical Therapist who took me through a battery of tests. I have a bad case of petallar tendonitis in both knees that I am getting treatment for.

Bottom line is after a few core strength tests, plus a test to see if I can squat with a close stance with my hands still straight in the air and not lean forward I failed.

Diagnosis, my lack of core strength is the reason for my lack of flexibility because me body had to adapt or adjust. He states he can fix this by strengthing my core and my flexibility will come with his techniques.

Is this bull? It sounds good to me. I mean I was struggling on some of those side planks and hip thrust manuevers with one leg in the air.

Comments?

Sounds like bullshit to me. Knee problems stemming from a weak core? I would like to hear his explanation for that.

I would check mobility in the hips and adductors as well as weakness in the posterior chain (glutes, hams, etc).

What are you currently doing as far as lower body strength exercises?

He didn’t say the knee problems are the direct result of a weak core – two separate but related issues. A weak core causing a breakdown of good form. Bad form = knee problem.

I have similar issues – my knees are fine but I cannot do an overhead squat with good form, because my core is weak, and my flexibility/mobility is not great (they are separate but intertwined issues). I’m working on it. It takes some work to fix it - what I mean is you have to work on it, and keep working on it. Look for articles by Eric Cressey here (oh wait you have a physical therapist).

Looking at your avatar pic, you obviously are serious about training - you can fix it with core work, flexibilty work, and mobility work. It takes time but you’ll avoid injury and lift with better form, and you’ll end up being able to train with heavier weights in the end. So it’s worth putting the time in.

I think you need to check out the date this was posted people.

I realize this thread is really old, but I just had to chime in as I am also a physical therapist.

It sounds like your therapist ran you through the SFMA, or Selective Functional Movement Assessment. It is Gray Cook’s clinical model of functional movement screening. Not only is this not bullshit, it is some of the coolest therapeutic stuff out there.

It would take many hundred pages to describe the neural principles that govern how a lack of core stability (which is a very general term… this guy’s therapist is probably applying something much more specific) can lead to immobility of one or more joints, but I can give a very simple example of just such a situation.

If you have an unstable lumbar spine, your nervous system will protect your back by sending a tonus signal (kinda like a stroke patient… sorta) to your hip extensors (hamstrings and glutes), so that you won’t be able to bend over as far and thus protecting your lower back. Quite literally, a lack of core stability has caused a flexibility issue! It is a neural protective mechanism.

The study and clinical application of how all this works together is fascinating and very cutting edge.