Complete Realignment Premium- Dr. Gary Linkov

Movement Assessment Summary

Prepared for Dr. Gary Linkov

Hi Gary,

I went through your video assessment carefully, and I want to share what I found and what it means for your body.

Shoulders and Upper Spine

Your shoulder movement is limited in range, and a lot of that comes from your upper back not opening the way it should, both in extension and rotation. When the upper spine doesn’t move well, the shoulder can’t either, no matter how much we work it in isolation. We’ll need to open the chest and upper back first, then bring the core in to support the shoulder as it moves through its full range.

The Back of Your Body

Your posterior chain, meaning your hamstrings, glutes, and lower back, is both short and weak right now. This shows up clearly when you bend forward and can’t reach the floor, and even more so in your inability to go from lying down to sitting up on your own. That transition needs your spine to move segment by segment while your core supports it, and right now that link is missing.

Hips and Pelvis, the Main Focus

This is where I want you to put most of your attention. There’s a real difference between your left and right hip, your left side is noticeably tighter through the inner thigh muscles. Both sides need work, but especially together, with a focus on opening external rotation at the hip and learning to properly activate the glutes.

Your inner thigh muscles, the adductors, are very short and carry a lot of tension. This is a big deal because it directly interferes with how your pelvis and the muscles around it are able to function.

On top of that, your quads and hip flexors are also sitting in a very shortened position right now. That’s why you can’t get into a couch stretch, your body simply doesn’t have the range there yet. When I look at how you sit and move, your pelvis tips forward and shifts to one side. Your lower back is picking up the slack for this, staying in constant tension, and over time that’s likely a big part of where your pain is coming from.

This same picture is why a low, deep squat isn’t available to you yet either. Getting into that position isn’t just about the ankle or the foot, it depends on your shin being able to rotate properly and, even more so, on your hip. When the hip isn’t rotating the way it should and the pelvis is already sitting rotated with limited core control around it, the body simply can’t fold down into that position. This all connects back to the same root issue in your hips and pelvis.

What This All Means

Your lower back is caught in the middle. It’s compensating for a stiff, immobile upper back above it, and for a hip and pelvis that can’t move properly below it. That’s a lot of pressure on one area, and it explains a lot of what you’re feeling.

Given how much tighter your left side is, I’d also keep an eye on the SI joint and the QL muscle on that side. With this kind of imbalance it’s common for tension there to refer pain into nearby areas in certain positions. We’ll watch how that responds as we start opening up the hip and pelvis.