In Part One of this topic, “Does Spinal Alignment Influence Life Expectancy and Disease Rate?,” I discussed how the spine acts as a circuit breaker of sorts for the nervous system’s electrical impulses coming in and out of it. When misaligned, one side of the spine may transmit too many signals, while on the other side, the circuit breaker is off completely. This can have adverse effects throughout the body. Now, let’s look at the muscles of the body and how they affect overall health.
Muscles fire and have a memory that is transmitted from the brain and spinal cord. A muscle can be functioning normally, be overly excited (hypertonic), or under excited (hypotonic). Muscles are connected to one another through fascia. Fascia is a thick covering that surrounds the muscle and links with adjacent muscles. Since the fascia is linked like a train throughout the body, a restricted fascia in the foot can affect cranial fascia or neck pain and so on. (See “Anatomy Trains,” Thomas Myer.)
Much research has hypothesized that fascia, or the fascial train, carries an electrical charge throughout the body. (See Harold Burr of Yale’s biofield studies as well as Dr. Robert Fulford’s work, ayurvedic medicine and Chinese medicine.) Since we are electromagnetic bodies, with polarities just like the north and south poles, it can be theorized that if a muscle is not functioning in one part of the body, it affects the whole fascial train, and ultimately the electrical charge or “healing energy” of the body. This tradition of “healing energy” has been carried down for centuries as Chi, Prana, Ki, or Innate.
We can then say that it is integral to have a balanced body, with both a balanced spine as the circuit breaker sending out proper internal messages, as well as a healthy muscle and fascial system to transmit our vital energy. If there is an imbalance, we are not at our full potential. We may be able to get by, but we can’t excel.
A full exam is necessary to diagnose your muscle and fascial system, with postural checks, movement screens, strength testing, and most importantly, palpation. A skilled clinician can often feel or sense the hidden blockages that may be the root cause of your problem. Many problems stem from old or new traumas, both physical and emotional, that must be released from the muscle in order for you to heal.
Through hands-on work, using muscle and joint manipulation, your chiropractor can balance your electromagnetic, spinal, muscle, and fascial systems. You will feel more alert, have less pain, and old conditions that you never thought would go away may clear up.
Healing Tip of the Week
If you feel like you are not functioning at your body’s full potential, have your chiropractor perform a full exam, which includes the muscles and fascial system. Some simple muscle and joint manipulation can dramatically enhance your performance.
