Balance has been the topic at hand this month whether it is assessing the different “pieces of pie” that make up your life, being conscious about what you put in your body, or exploring the delicate equilibrium between our yin and yang energies. Another, more tangible, aspect of balance is right here in the structure of our incredible bodies. Obviously we are made of up bones, organs, skin, etc, etc. and our soft and connective tissues (muscles and tendons) are what hold us all together. These guys have a big job for they keep the body in an anatomically neutral position so it can move efficiently, pain-free and the way the man upstairs ergonomically designed it to be.
The condition of our soft tissues is continually changing for a myriad of reasons, but mainly because of the activities we do on a daily basis (i.e. sitting at a desk for 8 plus hours or running a marathon) So, like other aspects of balance we constantly need to be conscious of how we are feeling and check in with ourselves. When muscles pull the body out of balance (become hypertonic or shortened) it can be caused by one or more of the following:
• Injury
• Overuse
• Repetitive use
• Postural issues or poor ergonomics
• Sleep “wrong”
• Automobile accident
For example, if you get rear ended by a car on the freeway most likely the muscles in the front or anterior of your neck will be stained and/or injured, eventually pulling your head forward (out of alignment). If untreated the body will recruiting other muscles to do the work the injured muscles are unable to do, trying to create balance once again. A more common example is sitting hunched over a computer for hours on end, without stretching or being conscious of your posture. Something we are all guilty of at times. This immobility causes your chest muscles to shorten which pulls your shoulders forward – causing the antagonist or opposite muscles in the back to tighten. Eventually the body tires from working in an inefficient and ineffective manner. This can result in PAIN. The interesting thing is that the discomfort is typically NOT felt in the tissue that is compromised, but in the muscle that is compensating or the antagonist muscle.
Massage therapy is an excellent method for reducing pain and realigning/rebalancing muscles. Massage therapists palpate the body to identify what muscles are hypertonic or shortened, they then work to lengthen and release the tissue using an array of techniques such as deep tissue and sports massage. Sounds simple…well it actually is. One session can relieve pain but follow-up sessions are recommended to truly regain balance in your soft tissues.
