Retrain: The Most Overlooked Part of Care

Pain Doesn’t Tell Us What’s Wrong—It Simply Signals That Something Is Wrong

Pain is often the first thing that grabs our attention, but it’s rarely the whole story. It doesn’t tell us what is wrong; it just signals that something is off. For a deeper dive into why this is, check out our previous blog: RESET.

So, if pain isn’t the answer, how do we find the root cause? That’s where we focus on understanding deficits in your body.

Mobility vs. Stability: Two Key Deficits

At its core, your body operates through two primary mechanisms: mobility and stability/motor control. These are the pillars of movement and function, and they come from our friends at Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA).

Here’s the breakdown:

Mobility Deficits: Physical restrictions in your movement.
Stability/Motor Control Deficits: Problems with how your body communicates internally to execute movement.

Let’s unpack each of these further.

Mobility Issues: Breaking It Down

Mobility problems are the result of two primary limitations:

Passive Tissue Restrictions (Bones/Ligaments): These are structural issues. Think about a joint that doesn’t move freely, limiting your range of motion. Treatments for these include:

Adjustments: A great way to mobilize joints that are "stuck."
Stretching: Specific styles tailored to your needs.
Deep Pressure Techniques: Foam rolling or targeted manual therapies.

2. Soft Tissue Limits (Muscle/Tendon): These are the more common culprits. Treatments for these include:

Massage Therapy or Scraping: We use FAKTR here at Auxoma for effective results.
Dry Needling: Targeting muscular trigger points to free up tension.
Targeted Exercises: Custom-tailored movements to retrain your body.

Stability and Motor Control Issues: The Brain-Body Connection

This is where we dig into proprioception—your body’s awareness of itself in space. Think of proprioception as the brain’s GPS for your body, gathering information from three systems:

Eyes (Vision): Your visual input guides how you move and balance.
Ears (Hearing): Your vestibular system (inner ear) plays a role in equilibrium.
Joints (Musculoskeletal System): These send feedback to your brain about movement and positioning.

When any of these systems are out of sync, you may experience tightness, stress-induced pain, or difficulty activating the right muscles during exercise.

Here’s an example: Are your neck muscles constantly tight? Pain worsening when you’re stressed? That’s often a sensory issue, not just a muscle problem. The key is identifying where the problem originates—be it your eyes, ears, or joints—and working backward to create lasting solutions.

The Road to Long-Lasting Results

Feeling overwhelmed by all this? You’re not alone. Many people believe that being fully healthy is an unattainable dream. But here’s the truth: deficits in movement or sensory systems can be fixed.

Once these deficits are addressed, maintaining results becomes much simpler. The beauty of your body is this: no movement happens twice.

Have you ever heard of muscle memory? It’s only partly true. Every movement you perform is a unique event, influenced by countless variables. This is why even professional athletes miss shots or struggle with consistency. If movement was static, you’d always get the same results.

Stop Reliving the Same Pain Cycle

Think about it: if you keep living with the same injuries and dysfunctions, you’ll stay stuck. But if you retrain your body and resolve the root cause, the possibilities for your health are endless. Want to stop repeating the same patterns? Ready to retain and optimize the way your body moves for good?