The Aftermath of Illness

When it comes to proper recovery, one lesson I think most good strength coaches and trainers advise their clients to take time off to recover from illness.

But while this may only result in 2-3 missed workouts, one thing many of us do not consider are the lingering effects that even a mild cold or infection can cause on posture and performance.


Much like recovery from acute physical injury, inflammation is the first response of the immune system to disease.

The inflammatory response (inflammation) occurs when tissues are injured by bacteria and results in a swelling and swelling around the area which is affected. This often results in substitution patterns by synergists which are supposed to last until the infection is eradicated.

The problems arise when these substitute patterns and synergists continue to dominate even after a full recovery.

When we are talking about areas such as the throat, chest, nose or even ears, we often see after sinus and respiratory infections is a pattern of chest or shallow breathing take hold in the presence of prolonged nasal congestion.

For clients restricted to bed rest or a reduction in activity, changes in muscle length or restrictions in immobilized areas of the body are also quite common.

In the book Anatomy Trains, author Thomas Myers describes the web of fascia when encases our muscles like seran rap from head to toe. This fascial web constricts or relaxes in reaction to daily movement and any change in daily activity-- from a stubbed toe to an immbolized limb-- can create changes in movement throughout the body.

Some examples include restricted dorsiflexion from propping the feet up on a stool or under the covers and forward head posture with sinus headaches. While many issues will usually resolve themselves, I view the implication of illness in the same light as an injury may affect the kinetic chain.

With this in mind, pay particular attention to the areas and joints directly above and below the site of infection.

Because illness and physical injuries often share the same pathological outcomes, it is crucial to play the detective after a layoff from illness.

With this in mind, some questions to ask your client include:
- A general description of their symptoms
- The length of time they have felt out of the norm
- Whether they can currently breath through your nose
- Whether they have or are still experiencing headaches

Some items to screen for include:

- Breathing patterns
- Postural restrictions in immobilized extremities (feet, legs, torso)
- Balance

Any one of the above questions or tests can be an important tool in assessing your client’s recovery and letting us know what you can do to help fortify the body against future injury or infection.

But my question for readers is: do you notice postural changes associated with common afflictions such the cold or flu? Is performance really affected by illness?

Hit me up with your thoughts.