In the ever changing world of sports performance “Motor Preferences” concepts is another to add to the lengthy list. I will dive quickly into what this concept is about and why it’s important to factor it into your training. Bio mechanics measure movement as movement profiles is trying to produce the best move and create a coordinated zone. Even though “Aerial” and “Terrestrial” may sound new, they both have direct correlations to muscle chain dominance and central nervous system coordination. Motor preferences refers to an individual’s inherent tendency to move in a specific way. It is shaped by both neurological wiring and musculoskeletal architecture in other words what’s your relationship between the central nervous system and the body and how respecting this can have a positive effect on performance and injury risk.
There are 2 type of movement profiles of someone in the sagittal plane I will discuss here are:
- Aerial- upper body dominant shoulder lead (toe dominant profile- postero median chain)
- Terrestrial- lower body dominant pelvis lead (heal dominant profile- antero median chain)
Aerial profiles get their power from speed mainly using their shoulders for transfer of energy. They tend to supinate shoulders (roll inward) to gain speed while running they tend to have side to side swinging. They are extention and horizontial/vertical force rebound thru core/glutes and hamstrings a preference of a rebound mode in the production of movement. They tend to be more symetrical. This is also considered a more vertical organization their mobile point is higher T8 area and the stability point is lower L5 area. The stability point is the area that is not moving during rotation we refer to this as association (move together).
Terrestrial profiles get their power from the hips a lower center of gravity just think of a squat as they transfer energy thru force. They are mobile, fluid and move well thru spine flexion and use lower limbs like a pulley system. They tend to be more asymetrical thru back/quads and calves. This is also considered a more horizontal organization their mobile point is lower L5 area and the stability point is higher T8 area we refer to this as dissociation (move separately). The stability point is the area that is not moving during rotation.
Teaching horizontal properties to a vertically organized athlete is likely to detract from performance and increase injury risk. Everyone pulls or pushes differently.
Learning Resource: Motor Preferences Experts (MPE), LLC
Post By:
Rick Saggese, XFS, CSAC