HAVE a think back to your first session at the gym, or your first exercise class, or even your first run.

What was the first thing you did? Did you develop the strength of your underlying core muscles before lifting weights? Did you balance your muscle strength and flexibility?

Erm, probably not! I certainly didn’t, and nobody told me I needed to back then.

Well have a read on and see what you think.

A balanced body is a body that is in correct alignment, or near enough. The muscles work with each other in harmony and we are able to use them efficiently.

A balanced body has full range of movement and full ability to function.

Basically, it’s a body that is able to do what we want it to do, happily, without discomfort.

Whenever you move, lift or exercise, it’s the muscles in your body that work first. They are what move the bones and joints.

So firstly, if these aren’t working properly then other things — bones, joints, cartilage etc — will suffer.

Muscles also absorb impact, like when we run or jump. If these muscles aren’t equipped to take the shock then something else will.

For example, if a person begins a running programme with poor or little muscle tone, then they may suffer with sore knees or shins as the muscles will not yet be strong enough to take the force put upon them.

The weight of a person will also impact on this too.

The muscles are the first line of defence in any exercise or sport. If muscles don’t absorb the force or impact then bones, joints and cartilage will take the stress, with that comes pain and/or injury.

In an unbalanced body, muscles will be tight, posture will not be great, feet will drop in or out and muscles will generally not work equally.

This will put limits on range of movement and ability to perform an exercise correctly or efficiently.

Exercising with muscular imbalances will increase the risk of injury and reduce any potential fitness achievements.