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chronically tight abdominal and oblique muscles

Eric_228
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chronically tight abdominal and oblique muscles
Hi Esther,

i just bought 8 steps-- fantastic!

my problem is that i have chronically over tight abdominal and oblique muscles.  my physio has never encountered tightness like this before, and we have spent hours deep massaging my stomach to relieve the tightness/knots in these stomach muscles.

my question is have you heard of anything like this before, and do you have any recommendations to deal with this situation using the Gokhale Method?

Eric
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It is very common for people to come in with overly tight rectus abdominus muscles. These are the ab muscles people focus on by doing crunches (and situps, god forbid!) It is unusual to have tight obliques - usually people come in with undertoned obliques. In any case, have you tried acupuncture? Acupuncture is remarkable for resetting tight muscles, including in the abdominal wall. But it doesn't make sense to just keep doing acupuncture (or massage) or any band-aid approach indefinitely. You want to relax the abdominal muscles and then encourage them not to tighten up again. Here's where pelvic anteversion (a tipped forward pelvis with your tail out behind you) comes in. Stacksitting, tallstanding and side stretchlying should all help with this. In this way you will maintain the gain you attain without pain...

Best of luck!
Brian Gomes
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         Hi Esther,

I read your book and learnt to use my inner corset muscles, but I was wondering what is the purpose and function of rectus abdominis if it's not used with the inner corset muscles?

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Hi Brian,

Rectus abdominus's main action is to tuck the pelvis, a perfectly healthy thing to do in dance, sex and other movements. The problem is when rectus is always on, especially if the deeper abdominal muscles are negelected and weak, this locks the pelvis into a default tuck. Ideally the pelvis would default to a tipped, or anteverted position. Some tone in rectus is consistent with this and prevents "poochy belly" and helps stabilise the pelvis without forcing it into a tuck.  I hope that helps.

 

John

Eric_228
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many thanks! i will try acupuncture and focus on maintaining an anteverted pelvis.

from what you wrote, it sounds like doing physical activity with a retroverted pelvis causes overly tight abdominal muscles.  is this correct?

Eric
Carlos Alarcon
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05/29/2022 - 12:10pm

Hi Eric I'm Carlos I'm suffering the same problem a very tight oblique muscle. Did you find a solution?? Thanks!!

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Not necessarily ( you could do physical activity with a retroverted pelvis and still have flaccid abs), but yes, if you are using your abs in your physical activity.
Eric_228
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dear esther,

i am going to try acupuncture to relieve my tight abdominals.  is there a special type of acupuncturist i should see, or do they all know how to relieve abdominal tightness?  is it safe?

eric
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Acupuncturists tend to be generalists, and appropriately so. I wouldn't look for a specialist. Look for someone who has good training and experience, and is present and cares. Acupuncture is very safe (ask if the person uses disposable needles) and is the least sued health profession. 
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