Many individuals know the importance of fitness, sports training, and keeping their bodies moving. However, without realizing they may be causing damage by doing one small motion incorrectly! Over time, this can lead to torn ligaments, worn cartilage, inflamed joints, fluid retention, and chronic pain. How do you avoid chronic pain and injury? Corrective Exercise!
You may be wondering where you can find a Corrective Exercise Specialist.
We’d like to introduce you to Nicki DeVries! DeVries is our Corrective Exercise Specialist at OMNI Balanced Life Center and is an expert at helping individuals maintain physical well-being. Whether you’re training and trying to avoid injury, or you’ve just finished Physical Therapy after surgery and need to further your post-surgical rehabilitation, she is here to help you!
We had the pleasure of sitting down with DeVries and asking her a series of frequently asked questions about Corrective Exercise, chronic pain, performance enhancement, post-surgical rehabilitation, and preventing injury:
OMNI: “With years of experience working with the physical body, what is the most common reason/injury people seek Corrective Exercise for?”
NICKI: “The most common injury I encounter with my clients is back issues. They may have bent down to grab something or “turned just right” and their back tightened up. This problem didn’t just happen, it started years earlier. People’s daily patterns, through work, incorrect exercise form, and how they move throughout the day create imbalances in the muscles, which start to pull on the back and eventually other joints, too. The human body is all connected for optimal function, so if one muscle is weak or tight, it will create imbalances throughout the entire body.”
OMNI: “How do you use your expertise to identify an individual’s problem areas and root causes?”
NICKI: “I will ask a series of health questions about what type of exercise they’ve done in the past, how their career affects their physical form, and what they have done recently to trigger the issue going on in their body. After that, I will do an assessment by watching their movement patterns, such as walking, standing from sitting, and reaching for an object. I can then identify the imbalance in that joint, and from there, I will put a plan together to correct the movement pattern, which will relieve the pain and strengthen the weak muscles to prevent this pain from returning.”
OMNI: “Do you recommend Corrective Exercise after Physical Therapy, and why?”
NICKI: “I highly recommend Corrective Exercise after Physical Therapy. Physical Therapy is excellent for getting muscles and joints moving after an injury or surgery. But, using Corrective Exercise, I will continue working with the entire body to reach optimal body motion and strengthening. This will prevent further injury in the future. A person is only as strong as their weakest muscle. If one muscle is tight, that will inhibit the opposing muscle and eventually prevent it from contracting and causing it to become weak. Over time, the imbalance in the body will create pain.”
OMNI: “Since many mistake a Corrective Exercise Specialist with a Personal Trainer, can you explain how they are different and what an individual can expect during a Corrective Exercise session with you?”
NICKI: “A personal trainer can help someone get stronger through a variety of strength training exercises and stretches and keep a client accountable with his or her time. However, even when a personal trainer is very good, most of them can’t identify the little differences in the body that a Corrective Exercise Specialist can. A Corrective Exercise Specialist, like myself, takes it to the next level in fitness. I will identify what is going on with your body and address it immediately. I make sure you are using proper movements, ensuring proper form to activate the correct muscle. I put together a stretching and strength training plan and help people learn how to identify what’s going on in their bodies and correct the way they move to prevent future injuries.”
OMNI: “Can Corrective Exercise be used as an injury prevention method and enhancement tool for athletes and athletic individuals?”
NICKI: “Absolutely, Corrective Exercise can be used as injury prevention and a sports performance enhancement tool for athletes. It is important to learn proper movements for the sport you choose. If you like to run but your knees hurt, there is a reason for this. If you are a golfer and your swing is stiff on the backswing or the follow-through, there is a reason. I will help you identify what’s going on in your body which will bring your power back just through a few stretches and straightening exercises. This will in turn prevent injuries from consistent improper movement patterns. I have learned while working with individuals throughout the years, how important it is to have correct posture, a strong core, and good balance. I love seeing the light bulb turn on when my clients feel the muscle contracting the way they are meant to. I love helping them feel stronger and move better in their daily life. I absolutely love my job and I look forward to helping so many more feel and move the way they are designed to!”
As we age, train, and perform, our bodies are placed at a higher risk of injury and, as we all know, physical well-being affects the quality of our lives. If you’re recovering from surgery, feeling a sharp pain in your hip after that marathon, or just finished Physical Therapy and don’t know where to turn, turn to Corrective Exercise! Nicki DeVries is here to help you reach your physical fitness goals, relieve chronic pain, prevent injury, and better your quality of life.
OMNI Balanced Life Center offers Corrective Exercise and Fitness Practices in Naples, FL.
