Our spine is a unique series of articulations that provide motion within every plane, house and protect our nervous system, and provide a foundation for the extremities to work about freely. When we have a compromise or injury to the spine it can seem as if life stops as we know it.
Most of the conditions I see as a clinician are a result of lifestyle habits that can easily be avoided, reduced in frequency, and corrected. The causes often consist of sedentary lifestyles, de-conditioning, poor posturing, and repetitive or asymmetrical activities.
The result for all of these is the same. It begins with facilitation;, shorted muscle groups that progressively adapt to repeated exposure to the habit. This in turn causes “reciprocal inhibition”, muscles on one side of a joint to relax, weaken, and lengthen in order to accommodate for the contracted muscles on the opposite side.
Aaah, but it doesn’t stop there. Obviously this creates and imbalance causing aberrant (poor) motion in our joints. The result is “arthrokinetic inhibition”; sensors around the joint cause the muscles that would normally stabilize it to shut off.
In a nut shell, the more this happens, the more it happens. At least until something is done to break the feedback cycle. It accelerates the wear and tear process of the body. Who wants that?
The good news is that by introducing an exercise program such as ours you can maintain, improve, and even avoid most of the conditions seen in my office. Our objective is to create flexibility, mobility, stability, and balance within the region. I’ve created a class that is not so serious. All the activities are adaptable to your skill level, are led by a licensed physician, and will leave you feeling ten feet tall.
Looking forward to helping you “get your healthy back”.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. “G”
Gregg Hoffman D.C. CSCS, CGFI
401 W. Ontario Suite 100 Chicago, IL 60610 312-943-3484 drg@rivernorthchiro.com
www.rivernorthchiro.com
