by Denise Müller, Grad. Sports Scientist

 

Increasing physical inactivity in children, teenagers, but also in adults and older people has been a topic of importance for years. How does this inactivity and passivity manifest itself in the human body in terms of the joints and their susceptibility to injury?
Jumping and running on various types of terrain, balancing on logs and climbing trees is not just fun: these activities have an enormous effect on physical health in terms of the basic abilities for balance, body awareness, and equilibrium. Once these activities no longer occur, movement economy deteriorates, and the stability of joints may fail at the slightest strain.

The body carries out lightning fast, established processes to guarantee sufficient joint stability. To do so it uses three systems working hand in glove:

• The neuronal control system
  consists of the central and peripheral nervous system, which must activate or inhibit the muscles at exactly the right time and to the correct extent.

• The active system
  consists of the supporting or executing muscles, which – of course – can only be as good as the system activating it. The neuronal system is therefore in the driving seat.

• The passive system
  consists of the capsule-ligament apparatus, and their relevant receptors on the joint.

Only those who have a broad movement repertoire  and therefore a well-trained overall system and established processes will be able to correctly react to new or repetitive situations in everyday life or sports activities, while at the same time ensuring sufficient safety for their joints.