Symmetry

This past
weekend when I was on a panel at the Perform Better Summit in Chicago several
of the presenters referred to symmetry in the body. I left with the impression
that when they detected asymmetries then they would then correct those. (Please
keep in mind this is my interpretation and recollection of what was said) I have
been down that path and it ended up in a very frustrating dead end. I think we
need to remember that the body is fundamentally asymmetrical. We have the heart
on one side body, both lobes of the brain are not equal size, in females one breast
is lower than the other, in males one testicle is lower than the other. Even in
elite sprinters step length is not even. There is a slight difference left to
right and right to left. All of that being said, then should we try to make the
body symmetrical and balanced? I really don’t think so. We need to look at
proportional development and decide what is acceptable for the person relative to
the task they are performing. A right handed tennis player who has played for a
number of years will have a significantly bigger right wrist and forearm than
the left. The body will adapt to the task demanded. As professionals we have to
observe how it adapts and make sure all the parts are timed up and working in
harmony. In my opinion the goal should be proportional development, otherwise
we may be seeking an unattainable goal. Remember we want to create fully adaptable
athletes not robots.