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Back and neck pain are some of the most common health problems today. In fact, most people suffer from back and neck pain to some degree.
If you’re someone who suffers from chronic pain, it can be difficult to live the life you want. Pain can get in the way of your ability to complete daily tasks. When massages and painkillers don’t take the pain away, it can start to feel like you will never get better.
To get rid of pain, you need to focus on its source.
Pete Egoscue, an anatomical physiologist, is renowned for developing a programme to rid the body of pain and limitations. He developed this programme while recovering from injuries sustained during the Vietnam War. Egoscue believed that postural imbalances were the main cause of chronic pain. These postural imbalances could be caused by an old injury, sitting at a desk for too long, poor posture, or even repetitive injuries from exercise.
To bring your body back to its natural state of health, you need to bring the body back into alignment. You can do this by reintroducing the body’s natural laws.
The following 10 Principles for Structural Health are laws we need to keep in mind in order to maintain balance and harmony in the body.
Movement keeps our body functional. Without consistent movement, our health starts to decline. That’s why it is so important to incorporate movement into our daily routines. This is known as “The Force of Movement.”
Egoscue believed that the main cause of chronic pain was “motion starvation”, which is the “relative lack of movement by people in developed nations.”
“Motion starvation” causes the body to get out of alignment. This, in turn, causes pain.You are what you believe. Your beliefs about your body dictate how your body functions, and what your body is capable of. If you want the power to move with ease and fluidity, then start with the faith that your body will be there to support you in your actions. This is the power of “The Force of Psychology.”Your body requires constant input and stimulation in order to function properly. Without this constant stimulation, your body becomes lethargic, stagnant, and incapable of coping with the demands of daily life. After all, “a body that is stimulated is alive, energetic, and continually growing.” This is known as “The Force of Stimulus.”There is no fighting gravity. In fact, gravity plays a key role in your physical health. However, your body needs to be vertically aligned in order for gravity to have a positive effect on your health. This is the “Law of Vertical Load.”The body must achieve balance through muscle memory. For this to happen, muscles must work equally on both sides of the body. This is known as “The Law of Balance.”
This law is important, because it allows you to always return to good posture, otherwise known as “The First Law of Vertical Load.”Our muscles are always at work, even when we are not moving. When the body is properly aligned, the correct muscles can safely dissipate the shocks and stresses of our movements. However, when the wrong muscles get worked – for example, because of poor posture – it can bring the body out of balance. These muscles begin to take over the functions of the correct muscles, causing dysfunction and body pain. This is known as “The Law of Compensation.”Muscles in the front of the body allow the body to bend. This is known as flexion. The muscles in the back of the body, on the other hand, hold you erect. This is referred to as extension.
In order for movement to be healthy, there needs to be a balance of flexion and extension in your body. This is known as “The Law of Dynamic Tension.”Your bones do what your muscles tell them to do. This is known as “The Law of Form and Function.” If you want good posture and a full range of movement, make sure your muscles are functioning properly.You need to breathe; the body cannot function without a steady supply of oxygen. When you don’t get enough oxygen, you can suffer from dizziness, fatigue, confusion – and of course, death. This is “The Law of Breath and Oxygen.”Your muscles, nerves, bones and connective tissues are all in a state of constant renewal. This is known as “The Law of Renewal.” If this state of renewal begins to slow down, then we age and die faster. Keep your body at an optimal state by obeying the Laws of Physical Health.If you suffer from pain, figure out where your body might be out of alignment. Then, get your body into alignment by committing to at least ten days of daily stretching and exercise.
Depending on your specific needs, you might want to consider seeking out help from a professional. They can give specific exercises to correct your problems. Or if you’re just looking to dip your toes, you can learn more about postural imbalance in Pete Egoscue’s books, The Egoscue Method and Pain Free. It’s also a good idea to check your body’s alignment at least once or twice a year.
At Whistle Clean Australia, we care about your health.
Photo credits: freepik.com