Does strength training increase stability? [news]

If you're strong, surely you'd have good stable joints. Strength training improves joint stability - right? This article explores some of the key concepts that show that this isn't necessarily the case. Firstly we'd better differentiate between local and global stability. To get an understanding of the difference it's useful to look at muscle function (Comerford and Mottram, 2001). While these muscle functions are integrated in "real life", it's useful to have these artificial classifications to understand how to develop a treatment plan. Local stabilisers such as multifidus and transverse abdominus act to control segmental translation. When applied to the lumbar spine, think of controlling the axis of rotation of each segment and the facet joints.