All About Redcord

Redcord is an innovative suspension based tool that utilizes bungees, ropes, and slings to activate the neuromuscular system, address muscular imbalances, enhance functional strength, and improve flexibility.

History of Redcord

While you may have never seen a system like Redcord, suspension based exercise is not a new concept. In fact, its origins start in gymnastics with rings and bars. During these skills, gymnasts must stabilize their body weight with precise muscle control. These skills help their bodies maintain perfect balance. Redcord applies these principles to restore functional movement through a series of suspension exercises.

What is the Redcord System?

The Redcord system is a Norwegian made, hanging apparatus that consists of bungees, ropes and slings to create a suspended, “zero-gravity” environment. This environment activates the neuromuscular system and allows your body to rebalance. The bungees allow the provider to partially or completely unweight your body to re-teach it how to properly move and stabilize. It not only affects stability across all joints, but it also impacts the myofascial chains which further stabilizes joints and reduces the chances of injury. When there is injury, improper movement patterns, surgery, or overuse, deep joint stabilizer muscles (pelvic floor, deep core, transverse abdominis, rotator cuff, etc.) turn off and the more superficial muscles start to take over. This is called neuromuscular deactivation and can lead to muscle imbalances, compensation, pain, injury and overall dysfunction. With Redcord, the provider is able to “wake up” the deep stabilizing muscles that were deactivated which decreases pain and restores function. 

Why Redcord?

Utilizing the Redcord system allows for faster results than traditional physical therapy. When you focus on and address the neuromuscular system, the effects are even greater and can be felt immediately. Some of the benefits of redcord are:

• Pain reduction

• Improved joint mobility

• Increased muscular control and stability

• Optimized performance

How is it used?

At West & Well we use Redcord in two ways. 

The first is for pain, injury rehabilitation, and after surgery. Because the system allows for adjustable support and resistance, we can perform exercises that target specific muscle groups without aggravating the condition. It is key to create pain-free movements to restore proper strength and movement patterns. For example, someone with a lower back injury may benefit from exercises on the Redcord that strengthen the core, glutes, and surrounding muscles while minimizing stress on the injured low back area. 

The second is preventatively for improving flexibility, performance or after chiropractic adjustments. As mentioned above, neuromuscular deactivation is common in most individuals and leads to injury and dysfunction. With  Redcord exercises we can target the deep stabilizing muscles and counter deactivation before it leads to injury. Flexibility requires not just increased muscle length, but also increased muscle strength at the end ranges of motion. End-range strength is hard to achieve on its own but can be done with the use of the ropes and bungees. Finally, activating the deep stabilizing muscles will help chiropractic adjustments hold for longer periods of time, thus decreasing the frequency of adjustments needed. 

COME TRY REDCORD AT WEST & WELL

I am so excited to bring Redcord to Cheer Athletics. High-level, competitive cheer and dance athletes are such a unique population. Each athlete has great strength and flexibility yet still suffers from injury. I truly believe that the principles and mechanisms behind the Redcord suspension system are exactly what these athletes need to stay healthy and continue competing at the highest level possible. Have more questions about Redcord? Feel free to come and try it out for yourself!