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Let’s take this concept of movement variability a step further and apply it into some lumbopelvic perturbation training. See if this makes sense to you. Previously I explained how we can use wearable resistance on the limbs as a form of core strength training whilst running and sprinting as the core needs to control the additional angular momentum. However, this was with symmetrical loading. What say you purposefully asymmetrically load the limbs? Would it induce a perturbation to the lumbopelvic unit, which in turn encouraged increased activation from the surrounding musculature to control for the altered lumbopelvic movement?

For example, loading one arm and an opposite leg, or loading the limbs laterally on one side of the body only, as shown in the pictures, and then begin training/running. What musculature would this challenge? The spinal stabilisers come to mind. Chris Korfist an innovative sprint coach out of Chicago has been using such loading patterns, and whilst we haven’t got the research, it is certainly great food for the grey matter.

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