Out of Balance? How a Muscle Assessment Can Help You Move Better
Ever felt like one side of your body works harder than the other? Or maybe you’ve had an injury that just keeps coming back, no matter how much rest or rehab you do?
That might be a sign your muscles are out of balance—and it’s more common than you think.
At our Central Dunedin physio clinic, a muscle balance assessment is one of the first things we do when someone comes in with pain, tightness, or recurring injuries. Why? Because getting to the root of the issue is often about more than just the sore spot.
What Is a Muscle Balance Assessment?
A muscle balance assessment looks at how your muscles work together. It includes:
Muscle strength
Muscle length and flexibility
How your muscles activate
Your posture and alignment during movement
Basically, we’re checking if your muscles are doing their jobs—and doing them at the right time. When things are out of sync, certain muscles start working too hard while others switch off or weaken. That can lead to pain, stiffness, and even injury.
What Causes Muscle Imbalances?
Muscle imbalances can happen to anyone. Common causes include:
Injuries that lead to compensation patterns
Repetitive movements (like always kicking with one leg or carrying a bag on one shoulder)
Poor posture from sitting all day
Old habits from past sports or training techniques
Lack of strength training or doing the same exercises over and over
These imbalances often build up slowly, which means you may not notice them until your body starts saying, “Hey! Something’s not right!”
Why Balance Matters
Think of your body like a team. If one player’s doing all the work, they’re going to get tired or hurt. Same goes for your muscles.
When things are balanced, your body moves more efficiently. You’re less likely to:
Overload joints
Pull or strain a muscle
Get recurring pain
Reinforce poor movement habits
And if you’re recovering from an injury? A muscle balance assessment helps your rehabilitation physio in Central Dunedin design a program that doesn’t just treat the symptoms—it addresses the cause.
What Happens During the Assessment?
When you come in for a muscle balance assessment at Physio Performance, here’s what to expect:
We listen. We’ll ask about your history, your sport or activity, and any pain or injuries you've had.
We observe. You’ll perform simple movements while we watch how your muscles and joints behave.
We test. We’ll assess strength, flexibility, and how your muscles activate during movement.
We explain. You’ll get a clear breakdown of what’s happening and why it might be affecting you.
We plan. Based on what we find, we’ll create a targeted program to restore better balance and function.
Who Should Get One?
Muscle balance assessments are useful for:
Anyone with recurring pain or tightness
People coming back from injury or surgery
Athletes wanting to improve performance and prevent injury
People with postural issues or alignment concerns
Anyone who wants to move better and feel more in control of their body
Get Back in Sync with Your Body
Whether you’re training hard or just trying to move without pain, muscle balance matters.
At our Central Dunedin physio clinic, our team of experienced physiotherapists in Dunedin city uses muscle assessments to take the guesswork out of recovery and help you move with strength and confidence.
