ESSENTIAL Naples
Health
FALL 2021
42
Robotics Muscular Therapy Is a Game Changer By Theresa Edmunds
“This patented revolutionary method of treating injuries and relieving aches and pains can dramatically improve athletic performance— its therapeutic value cannot be overstated.” —Theresa Edmunds
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ches and pains getting you down? We all seem to have some aches and pains that bother us on a daily basis. But why are these chronic issues so prevalent? It has to do with the way that our muscles work as well as our lifestyle. Our muscles start off long and pliable, able to move freely and allowing us wide range of motion. As we age, become less active, or engage in repetitive motion or certain postures, our muscles start to contract and shorten, losing flexibility. Injury, stress, and even everyday activities can cause muscles to shorten and become imbalanced as well.
Why Relaxed Muscles Matter
As muscles shorten, they become tight and can change our posture and even pull bones out of alignment (the reason people need chiropractic care). It can also inhibit athletic performance. As performance is lost, pain sets in and if the muscle is overstretched, muscles may tear and
become injured even further, exacerbate the issue. As large muscles shorten, it becomes very difficult to lengthen them again. Manual therapy such as massage cannot put enough sustained pressure on the large muscles to allow them to completely relax and return to their natural state. Certain postures cause muscles to contract. Today, we often spend a lot of time with our arms forward—driving, computer work, phone use, kitchen work, and so on causes our shoulders to round as our pectoral muscles becomes tight with lack of use and stretching. Even something passive like sitting for prolonged periods cause large muscles such as the psoas and hip flexors to shorten, which can cause low back pain as these large muscles pull and strain other muscles. The pain that these tight muscles cause is real, and no amount of stretching can lengthen these large muscles once they become shortened.
10/6/21 9:12 AM
