What is Muscle Imbalance?
Muscle imbalance is a common but often overlooked condition that occurs when opposing muscle groups develop unequal strength, flexibility, or activation patterns. These imbalances disrupt how your body moves and functions, creating compensations that lead to pain and dysfunction. Unlike sudden injuries, muscle imbalances develop quietly over time, often going unnoticed until they cause persistent discomfort.
Not sure if muscle imbalances are causing your pain? Our experienced physiotherapists at True Physio can provide a thorough assessment and create a treatment plan tailored to your needs
The condition commonly affects the lower back, shoulders, hips, and knees, causing localised pain, poor posture, and restricted movement. You might notice that certain movements feel awkward or uncomfortable, or that one side of your body feels tighter than the other. Chronic pain is often particularly troublesome, and many people find that their symptoms interfere with exercise, work, and daily activities.
Muscle imbalances can develop from prolonged sitting, repetitive movements, poor posture, previous injuries, or one-sided activities like certain sports. It’s particularly common in office workers and people whose hobbies involve repetitive motions. Without proper treatment, the condition can become chronic, leading to secondary injuries and significantly impacting your quality of life.
How Physiotherapy Can Help
Muscle imbalances can make everyday movement painful and frustrating, but with the right physiotherapy, you can restore balance, move more freely, and reduce the risk of chronic pain developing.
Our muscle imbalance treatment focuses on three key outcomes: eliminating pain, restoring balanced movement, and preventing future problems.
You’ll benefit from:
- Comprehensive movement assessment to identify specific imbalances and compensatory patterns
- Targeted strengthening exercises to activate weak, underactive muscles and rebuild proper function
- Flexibility and stretching protocols to release tight, overactive muscles and improve range of motion
- Hands on massage therapy to ease muscle tension, restore normal joint motion, and reduce pain
- Expert guidance on posture, workstation assessment, and movement mechanics to stop imbalances before they start
We’ll show you how to stay active and in control, long term. Whether it’s your back, shoulders, hips, or knees, our tailored approach helps you move comfortably again and get back to doing what you love.
Our Skipton Clinic received this review after a patient saw Sakshi: “I had been dealing with persistent lower back pain for months and couldn’t figure out why. Sakshi identified significant muscle imbalances between my weak glutes and tight hip flexors from sitting at my desk all day. She was fantastic, she listened carefully to my concerns, assessed my movement patterns, and designed an exercise programme that targeted my specific weaknesses. She explained how physiotherapy could help me rebalance my muscles and reduce pain. I’ve noticed real improvements in my posture and strength, and my back pain has significantly decreased. Highly recommend Sakshi and the team.”
Our Experts Are Ready to Help
We understand that muscle imbalances affect everyone differently. That’s why your care starts with a thorough initial assessment, so we can pinpoint the root cause and create a treatment plan that fits your body, goals, and lifestyle.
You’ll be guided by experienced therapists who use hands on treatment, tailored exercise, and expert advice to reduce pain, improve movement, and restore balance. Most patients see real improvements within just a few weeks. Book today to schedule your appointment.