Resources: Articles
October 2009 : Motion - The Key To Good Health
Have you ever taken the time to really sit and watch a infant move around?? Next time you have the opportunity take a minute and really observe. The way their bodies move is truly fascinating and unfortunately remarkably different to the way most adults move.
When was the last time you saw a 40 year old touch his or her toes to their forehead, or move from a seated position onto their stomachs by simply hinging at their hips and flopping forward? As humans we are born with remarkable flexibility and range of motion, it is over time and lack of attention to this amazing attribute that we lose our elasticity which is an important aspect of our health.
Motion is the key to health. It is what helps pump blood and nutrients to our extremities and what nourish our joints, muscles, and vital organs. From the cellular level to locomotion, movement is vital to your well-being. Flexibility, therefore, plays a pivotal role in one’s health as well. Not only does it help to prevent injuries, the more flexibility you have the less like you are to strain your muscles, but it also contributes to your body’s ability to move, as well as, how you hold yourself (aka. your posture).
The more hypertonic or tight your muscles become the less movement and nourishment (blood flow) you will have at the joints that the muscles interact with and cross over. Think about it as a numbers game. If each joint in your body has 100% motion when you are born, then as you age and you lose your flexibility than that is going to translate into tighter muscles that keep your joints from moving in their full range. Day to day, it may feel like you are moving your hips, knees, shoulders, neck, back (just to name a few of the big ones) 100% but let’s go back to the baby we were observing earlier and do you think he or she would agree??
So, what can you do about it? Here are some suggestions on how to improve your flexibility:
(1) Participate in a regular stretching routine. Whether you exercise or not (which of course you should) you want to be doing some form of stretching on a daily basis. Like brushing your teeth, it should be a daily habit. ** Please note, stretching should NEVER be painful. If a certain stretch, causes pain back out of it carefully and either take a lighter approach or try to find a different way to stretch the same area. If the problem persists, consult your health provider.
(2) Sweat! Getting your endorphines pumping is one of the best way to loosen up your muscles and can dramatically improve the results you will get from stretching. Your muscles should always be warmed up before participating in a stretching program; therefore, combining it with an exercise program that elevates your heart rate is your best option.
(3) Try Yoga or Pilates. Since Yoga and Pilates have hit the “mainstream” there are so many options available to someone who is interesting in improving their flexibility. It can make a dramatic difference in your posture and the strength and length of your body’s stabilizing muscles. If one particular type of yoga or pilates class is not for you, don’t give up. Try a different kind - not all classes are created the same so you are bound to find one that works for you.
(4) Make protecting your health a priority and get some form of musculoskeletal treatment once per month. Whether it be a massage, chiropractic manipulation, osteopath mobilization, it doesn’t matter as long as it works for you. These forms of therapy often times will help your body get out of its own way and correct the musculoskeletal imbalances that the years of decreased flexibility have created. It is also a great way for you to learn about the muscles and joints that are particularly tight in your body and the specific techniques that you can use to help improve their mobility.
So now that you are looking at babies in a totally different way, your mission for this month is to get moving! Incorporate the above steps into your daily life this month and see how much they can help make you the best you can be!