Three Signs That You Have Muscle Imbalance In Your Body

It’s possible to develop a muscle imbalance in your body for many different reasons, but the common result will be that this condition will leave you in physical pain. A minor muscle imbalance might be difficult for you to notice, especially if you have yet to experience the painful side effects. However, if your muscle imbalance is severe, you’ll likely be dealing with a considerable degree of discomfort daily. An effective way to deal with a muscle imbalance is to seek the care of a chiropractor, who will adjust your joints and work on your muscles to relieve your pain. Here are some signs that you have a muscle imbalance.

Pain When Your Body Is Neutral

While it’s understandable that you might experience some discomfort when you bend or twist your body into different positions, it’s a concern if you feel pain when you’re in a neutral position. For example, if you’re standing straight or lying in bed, pain in certain parts of your body can be indicative of a muscle imbalance. In such a case, stronger muscles in one area of your body are pulling on your joints, which can pull them out of alignment and leave you with discomfort.

Challenges When Performing Certain Activities

Muscle imbalance is prevalent among those who perform repetitive movements with certain muscles, but don’t work the opposite muscles equally. For example, if you’re a carpenter who uses his or her right hand for sawing wood, the muscles in your right side will be significantly stronger than those on your left side. Even if you’re not yet in physical pain, you may notice the early signs of a muscle imbalance if you try to perform something with your left hand and it’s difficult.

You Can Actually See A Difference

Sometimes, muscle imbalance can actually be visible. One simple way to assess muscle imbalance in your arms, for example, is to stand in front of a mirror and flex both biceps. Ideally, they’ll appear to be the same size, but the reality is that the muscles on your dominant side will usually look a little bigger. Even when you aren’t specifically flexing, it may be possible to see that one side of your body — often your dominant side — is visibly larger or more defined than the other. If you notice these signs, you’ll want to see a chiropractor so that he or she can help you to correct this issue.