EQUIVITA
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Contact/Location
    • Media
    • COVID Protocols
  • Services
    • Initial Fitness Review
    • Fitness
    • Group Classes
    • Massage Therapy
  • Virtual Studio
  • Partners
    • Equanimity
  • Blog

When is a Muscle Not a Muscle?

4/1/2022

0 Comments

 
The distinguishing feature that makes a muscle is its ability to shorten, sometimes with significant force, and then return to a lengthened position. This ability is what enables our bodies to move because when the muscle shortens it pulls the end points together. We all know this, even if we don’t get into the specifics of where the muscle originates and inserts (its end points) we have a general idea that a muscle is supposed to contract and relax, and that action is how we move. But what happens when a muscle is held in a constant contraction? From internalized stress to postural distortions, there are many reasons why a skeletal muscle might be held in a contracted state. And, as we have written in previous articles, it is important to know the reason for the contraction before releasing the seized muscle to not cause more harm. 

In this scenario, let’s imagine that we have identified and addressed the reason that the muscle had been in a constant contracted position. The muscle, however, has not relaxed but remains in a shortened state. To bring that muscle back to a functional muscle, will probably require some manual manipulation (i.e., massage). 

Collagen, the building protein of the body, is laying down throughout the body all the time - and seems to do so at a faster pace as we age. If a muscle is held in a short position for an extended period, then the collagen lays down and sticks that tissue in that position. Over time this develops to a point where the essence of the muscle, the contract/relax part, is diminished as it now functions more like connective tissue. One of the easiest examples of this in our society is the posture of many of our senior citizens. The muscles of the back have become so rigid that when upright they are rounded forward and when laying down cannot lay flat on their back because the muscles are too stiff.

Muscles that are this stiff cannot be effectively contracted nor stretched because they no longer have the suppleness that we would like the muscle to have. In this rigid state, they function much more like connective tissue than muscle. 

The great news, however, is that this is all living tissue and can be changed. The first step is to identify if you have muscles in this state. Sometimes this can be challenging, especially if the stuck muscles are deep stabilizing muscles. Next, determine if the stuck muscle has been responding to another force pulling it. This can be other muscles and/or the force of gravity as in the rounded forward posture already mentioned. Then you can address the stuck muscles as part of the whole body program with targeted massage. And once the muscle starts to become unstuck over time the muscle will be able to stretch as well as contract. 

Sounds like quite a process, and it is, which is one of the reasons why we are big believers in regular massage. Massage therapists can find and address these restrictions before they develop into stuck muscles. But even if regular massage hasn’t been part of your self-care program and you have developed muscles that are functioning not like muscle, you can make a difference. Bringing those muscles back to supple and then strong.

As always, let me know how I can help.
Adam
0 Comments

    EQUIVITA

    This blog is written and updated by the staff that support EQUIVITA. Individual blog posts are the thoughts of the staff member that submitted the post.  The content of these posts often support the thoughts and ideas of our organization, but do not always(and we scarcely use definitives) reflect the same thoughts or ideas of the organization as a whole.

    Archives

    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    Categories

    All
    1RM
    Abdominal Muscles
    ACSM
    Adam Grant
    Adam Milligan
    Adaptation
    Aerobic Exercise
    Ailments
    Alignment
    Allostasis
    Ankle Mobility
    Annie Dillard
    Anti-inflammatory
    Anxiety
    Arch Tightness
    Arthritis
    Ayurvedic
    Back Pain
    Back Spasm
    Barefoot Training
    Biomechanics
    Bloating
    Blood Sugar
    BMI
    Body Building
    Body Fat
    Body Scan
    Breath Awareness Video
    Calve Raises
    Carbohydrate Loading
    Cardio Exercise
    Carla Fox
    Charis Harris
    Clintonville Farmer's Market
    COVID 19
    Deep Core
    Deep Core Training
    Deep Front Line
    Depression
    Diaphragm
    Diaphragmatic Breathing
    Diaphragm Stretching
    Diet
    Diet Tracking
    Digestion Ease
    Disrupt Repetitive Force
    Dumbbell
    Exercise Recommendations
    Fascia
    Fatigue
    Fat Loss
    Feet
    Fitness
    Five Keys Fitness
    Flexibility
    Flexible Feet
    Flourishing
    Foam Rolling
    Focus
    Food Supply Chain
    Foor Exercises
    Foot Drills
    Fredrick Kaufman American Stomach
    Goal Planning
    Goal Setting
    Gut Garden
    Gut Microbiome
    Habitual Posture
    Health
    Hip Stabilization
    Homeostasis
    Human Spirit
    Hunger Awarness
    Hypertrophy
    Image
    Inner Core Training
    Intense Exercise And Nutritional Needs
    Interval Training
    Intrinsic Foot Muscles
    IRest Practice
    Katherine Baxter
    Kettlebell
    Killer Immune Cells
    Knee Pain
    Languishing
    Laughing
    Lean Mass
    Maria Popova
    Massage
    Metabolism
    Micronutrients
    Mitochondria
    Mood
    Motivation
    Multiplaner Movement
    Muscle Recovery
    Muscle Spasm
    Natural Killer Immune Cells
    Neti Pot Use Care
    Neurohormones
    Nutrition
    Ny Times
    Osteoarthritis
    Over Training
    Pain
    Parasympathetic Nervous System
    Pelvic Floor
    Pinched Nerve
    Plantar
    Post Exercise Replentishing
    Postural Alignment
    Program Repetition
    Protein
    Relaxation
    Reset
    Resistance Bands
    Rest
    Running
    Running Gate
    SAID Principle
    Satiety
    Seasonal Eating
    Short Food Supply Chain
    Short Foot Exercises
    Sinus Massage
    Sleep
    Sleep Training
    Stabilizer Muscles
    Stationary Machine Use
    Strength Training Plan
    Stress
    Supply Chain Food Managment
    Synovial Joint
    Tami Wise
    Throw Out Back
    Toe Exercises
    Treadmill Traning
    Treadmill Walking
    Trigger Point
    Vagel Reset
    Vagus Nerve
    Visualization
    Weight Training
    Well Being

    RSS Feed

15o8 Hess St.,
​Columbus, OH 43212
​614.298.8781
Copyright ­© 2022 Body By Me.
​All Rights Reserved.


Sign In/Register


EQUIVITA is proud to serve our community for over 20 years.

Picture