Frequent, insignificant changes can eventually amount to a much bigger total change that we may be unaware of, so, move it or lose it?
I was recently somewhat disappointed to discover that the “Frog-in-the-Pot” observation is in fact not true. Disappointed, not because I like to see frogs cooked, but that a useful metaphor for the impact of a phenomenon that is now referred to as “creep” is based on unfounded science. It still serves a purpose though, as most of us have heard of, and understand, the metaphor. Frequent, insignificant changes can eventually amount to a much bigger total change that we may still be unaware of. If the problem is suddenly corrected, only then do we realise that things hadn’t been the way they should have been.
As we age, we reasonably expect that our strength and mobility will start to fade and the lasting affects of old injuries can become more limiting. The adage, “Move it or lose it” holds very true – someone who leads a very sedentary lifestyle is going to notice more significant changes than someone who exercises regularly and maintains good, regular movement. Movement helps to maintain both the strength of the muscles and the health of the joints where joint nourishment is provided by the movement of the joint fluid accompanying full and normal movement of the joint.
Good healthy movement helps to maintain healthy patterns of muscle activation in the Nervous System. We develop gross motor patterns as youngsters when we learn basic activities like walking and running and these then become refined as we develop more efficient patterns of muscle firing. This creates efficiencies of effort and energy expenditure resulting in less fatigue and greater stamina to be able to do something harder, longer and even better still. Learning a new task such as an athletic skill requires focussed effort and often repeated attempts to refine and reproduce with stunning precision as we have just witnessed and marvelled at with the 2018 Winter Olympics. Having to learn to walk again following major trauma requires very energy intensive retraining and re-patterning as revealed in some of the Olympic athletes’ stories of getting back to international standard after serious injury. Even more of these amazing recoveries will be shared next month with the athletes of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.
On many occasions over the years I have observed sudden improvement in mobility and strength following chiropractic adjustments. Scientific research now strongly supports what many people have experienced from chiropractic care, that there is measurable improvement in strength following chiropractic adjustments in otherwise asymptomatic individuals.
Don’t wait until you can’t move well, or movement becomes painful, before you find out how well and comfortably you can move with the right care and support. Call your local chiropractor today and maybe get yourself out of a bit of hot water!
Reference: Haavik, H et al. Impact of Spinal Manipulation on Cortical Drive to Upper and Lower Limb Muscles. Brain Sci. 2017, 7, 2.
Dr Steve Osborne as been practising for over 20 years and is more passionate than ever about what Chiropractic can do!
He enjoys traveling with his family, discovering new foods, new customs and new landscapes both in Australia and overseas, meeting people from all walks of life and making enduring friendships.