You Are Strong, But Are You 3D Strong?

Written by Calvin Thai PT, DPT

A lot of people are active nowadays, and that is great. In fact, it is fantastic. Whether it started from a New Year’s resolution, inspiration from an influencer, or a desire to better yourself, being active helps keep your body younger and stronger. If I had to give one piece of advice to anyone starting their fitness journey, it would be to be strong in three dimensions.

Now what do I mean by that? When most people lift weights, they typically stick to what we call the sagittal plane. In simple terms, that means moving forward and backward. Think about it. When you go on a run, do a lunge, or swim, you are mostly moving in that same direction. The key to a truly strong body that can keep up with all the fitness you want is not just to be strong, but to be strong in every plane of movement.

Twisting. Side bending. Left and right. Up and down. Diagonal movement. All of these directions are important to be strong in. This is also a major reason why many people experience lower back or knee pain even though they stay active.

Your body is like a supercomputer and will adapt to what you consistently do. At the same time, it will look for the easiest way to complete a movement without making it too difficult. So if you are only strong and active in one direction, your body will rely on that as much as possible because it knows that is where you are strongest. This can lead to a long list of problems.

So, the main takeaway is simple: be active 3-dimensionally!

Let’s chat! Book an assessment and let’s get you back to feeling good in your body.

No referrals, no waiting, just answers. Did you know that we offer free 1-on-1 injury screens? Wattage Physical Therapy will take an in depth look at your ergonomics, posture, muscle tone, muscle weaknesses, and movement patterns to create a plan for YOU. If this article intrigues you, you can directly email me, Calvin at Calvin@wattagept.com. I would be happy to help you start the process of living a life free from pain.