We Should All Be Movement Generalists

Why being the “Jack and Jill of all trades” should extend to fitness

In the athletic world, we’re taught to specialize in a sport that’s ideal for our body type and ability. Being tall means one will be a good fit for sports like basketball and volleyball. Being big and tall means one will be a good fit for American football, rugby, water polo, or throwing the shot put. Having long arms is an asset for swimming. Being short, lean, and flexible are ideal for gymnastics, ballet, or figure skating.

Once an athlete finds their specialty, they’ll spend years perfecting it with the hopes of winning a local, regional or national championship. Some may strive to take their talents to the next level and compete in the NCAA, a professional league, or major international competitions like the Olympic Games.

Adopting the athlete lifestyle means injuries come with the territory. Within each sport, one may notice a common trend in the types of injuries that occur. In track and field, runners often have shin splints, and jumpers often have knee problems. Baseball and softball players often have shoulder problems. Foot and ankle injuries are common in ballet. Because athletes are often still functional while dealing with overuse injuries, they may continue to train and worry about fully recovering in the off-season, plus the fact that it’s no secret that some coaches will make their athletes train and compete while injured. Due to the repetitive movements and intense training, specializing at a high level can be unsustainable.

Outside the world of organized sports, one can also find specialists in the average person who maintains a fitness regimen. CrossFit, bodybuilding, road or trail running, yoga, aerobic dancing are common examples of specialized fitness activities. People who train in these activities regularly may not have plans to be nationally or globally known, but they still train hard enough to the point where they may develop overuse injuries and/or imbalances in their range of motion.

While there are benefits in specialization, it can come with consequences, not only on your body but also on your mind. Society has a strong fixation on labeling everything as much as possible. Don’t believe me? Go on random social…

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