Did you know that the aging process is accelerated due to the loss of flexibility and flow of movement in our bodies? Our bodies have a platform of function, better known as flexibility. A true measure of health is the ability to move through space with a full range of motion and flexibility with ease, without pain, stiffness, and soreness. In other words, if you want to maintain your health up into your golden years you need to bring activities into your life that enhance your overall flexibility and mobility in Coon Rapids MN.

WHY STRETCH & REMAIN FLEXIBLE IN COON RAPIDS MN? BECAUSE YOUR HEALTH DEPENDS ON IT!

We have found in our practice that many people feel that if they can walk, that is enough flexibility to keep them healthy. What they fail to understand is that being flexible and maintaining that flexibility is much more than the status quo of walking. Stretching particular muscles of a particular joint is taking that structure to the end of its physical capacity, forcing it, and actively pushing it another 10-15 degrees beyond its limits to get a deeper stretch to the muscles and ligaments of the underlying structures that are stiff and tight. We have observed that most people in their daily routine never get close to this level of a stretch. That is the reason why we will give people specific localized stretching exercises for joints in a state of dysfunction.

WHAT CAN MAKE A JOINT DYSFUNCTIONAL?

The muscles and ligaments are attached to bones in a joint and can affect the joint’s movement. Muscles and ligaments that are stiff and tight and don’t move well. When they are stiff and tight they lose their normal function and get sore as well.

WHY IS FLEXIBILITY SO IMPORTANT?

The body thrives on movement and as a person moves a pumping action is created pushing blood, nerve flow, and nutrients to all the tissues in the body. In every joint, there are also nerves that act as “receptor sites”. These receptor sites communicate back and forth to the brain and tell the body how to move and when. In active stretching, you are putting the joints through many positions and “activate” these receptor sites so that they are able to move and react quickly when you get in a sudden compromising situation (such as stepping off a curb wrong). When one develops a sedentary lifestyle the lack of movement and pumping action in the muscles and ligaments restricts the flow of circulation and nutrients to these vital tissues leading to postural fatigue, pain, and suffering. Plus, the body becomes lazy and when receptor sites are rarely moved or activated, they do not react as fast when in a crisis, or sudden movement. An example of a sedentary work/home lifestyle is a person who is not active and sits at a desk with their head bent forward, looking down, and doesn’t move much for hours on end. Most of our older patients who leave active, moving lifestyles, or do stretching are much healthier and can react quickly to sudden movements, falls, or missteps. The former surgeon general of the United States once said, “More people die of a sedentary lifestyle than from smoking.”

Another problem you can develop (usually from repetitive use in our lifestyle or from working) is called asymmetry of muscle strength. This is where people say “I am stronger on the right than on the left, or my right leg is larger in diameter than my right” This is not healthy for the balance of your posture. This is a negative stress in your body’s ability to function and express life and it creates fatigue and strain on tissues and joints that normally should not be. This is a cardinal sign that requires development on the weaker side of your body to bring it up to a level of tone and strength.