Zach Ganska
Level 5 Valued Member
Sean,
I hope those who are wiser provide their feedback, here's how I best understand reflexive stability. (Hopefully without butchering the concept):
The type of activation of one's ...... (insert whatever you want to call the many dozens of small stabilizers throughout the trunk) that allows for fluid, authentic movement (hence the ability to breathe whilst performing the movement). I'm thinking of the difference between someone who struggles to get a 1 or 2 on the FMS rotary stability test, while those few who can perform a 3 make it look ridiculously easy. OR those who effortlessly perform a squat (weighted or unweighted) and can hold any bottom position they choose, chest up, without T-spine or lumbar flexion. Again, looking natural and effortless, as opposed to those who feel "tight" in their adductors, glutes, whatever and are in some way fighting themselves going down to reach the desired depth.
So yes, for those who have (I'd add "not lost") the ability to reflexive stabilize, ALL movement includes reflexive stabilization as the activation frees up larger muscles to exert their full force to the task at hand.
If my understanding is correct this is the reason the RS test precedes the TSPU in the FMS as one shouldn't be applying feed-forward tension (TSPU) using the outer ...... (insert whatever you want to call the many dozens of small stabilizers throughout the trunk) before the inner ...... (insert whatever you want to call the many dozens of small stabilizers throughout the trunk) is functioning properly.
I hope those who are wiser provide their feedback, here's how I best understand reflexive stability. (Hopefully without butchering the concept):
The type of activation of one's ...... (insert whatever you want to call the many dozens of small stabilizers throughout the trunk) that allows for fluid, authentic movement (hence the ability to breathe whilst performing the movement). I'm thinking of the difference between someone who struggles to get a 1 or 2 on the FMS rotary stability test, while those few who can perform a 3 make it look ridiculously easy. OR those who effortlessly perform a squat (weighted or unweighted) and can hold any bottom position they choose, chest up, without T-spine or lumbar flexion. Again, looking natural and effortless, as opposed to those who feel "tight" in their adductors, glutes, whatever and are in some way fighting themselves going down to reach the desired depth.
So yes, for those who have (I'd add "not lost") the ability to reflexive stabilize, ALL movement includes reflexive stabilization as the activation frees up larger muscles to exert their full force to the task at hand.
If my understanding is correct this is the reason the RS test precedes the TSPU in the FMS as one shouldn't be applying feed-forward tension (TSPU) using the outer ...... (insert whatever you want to call the many dozens of small stabilizers throughout the trunk) before the inner ...... (insert whatever you want to call the many dozens of small stabilizers throughout the trunk) is functioning properly.