Egoscue-Can the body fix itself?

A few months ago I was given the opportunity to work for Egoscue Santa Monica. It was here that I discovered the core workings of the body. My personal trainer/corrective exercise mind was challenged with thinking of the body as a unit; a unit where each joint, muscle, bones affects the other. Egoscue will be one of the leading modes of therapy in the near future.

As an exercise therapist, we see the body as an alignment of load joints. Eight load joints, the shoulders, the hips, the knees, and the ankles ideally stack on top of one another to provide the body with true function and strength.

Now what happens when the body veers from this true functional design? We feel old, in pain, less productive and well not so happy. Improper joint alignment can lead to:

·         Headaches & migraines

·         Neck pain & TMJ

·         Nerve pain

·         Sciatica

·         Tendonisits

·         Back pain

·         Knee pain

·         Herniated and bulging disks

·         Arthritis & osteoarthritis

·         Carpal tunnel

·         Tennis elbow

·         Degenerative Hips

·         Fibromyalgia

·         Foot/Heel pain

·         Plantar fasciitis

As we face these problems we have become conditioned in our society to run to the doctor. The doc spends a good five minutes with us to give us a prescription for pain medications, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory or worse surgery. Problem fixed? Or are we doomed to live this way? In pain, hooked on pills, and trips under the knife?

A few weeks ago I attended the Los Angeles Personal Training Forum and Lenny Parracino asked us this, “How does the body know the difference between a stabbing in a back alley or a scalpel in the surgery room? It doesn’t.”  And if it’s an overall alignment issue the surgery fixes the symptom but does not solve the main issues. Why do you think there are so many repeat surgeries? How do you feel when that surgeon says, “That knee will hopefully last you ten years”?

How do you fix alignment? Can you fix the actual position of bones and joints?

What moves your bones? Confusing….think of it simply, what moves your bones to walk? Swim? Bike ride? It’s not your mind…although that is involved…it’s your MUSCLES! So if muscles move our bones, can they also move our bones and joints into proper alignment? Yes. We live in a very repetitive society and some of our muscles forget they can move….leaving you in muscular imbalance and poor bone alignment.

Egoscue or exercise therapy gives your body exercises to find those muscle again and regain balance in your structure. Having the proper alignment allows for the body to function efficiently and effectively not only in actual physical movement but also in all the essential biological functions…like digestion and circulation.

Just as your alignment on your vehicle is essential to proper function as is the alignment on your body!

Want some more information on these amazing techniques? Read Pete Egoscue’s (founder of Egoscue) book Pain Free.

If you are in the Santa Monica area stop by the clinic and make an appointment with Paul Schell or Kai Taylor, (310)450-2549.

If you are in or near the San Fernando Valley or Santa Clarita Valley you can schedule an appointment with me, (661)607-1262.

Life’s too short to live in pain or dysfunction! You are never too old to jump, run, skip, and play! Learn the exercises right for you to put your body into proper design function.

It’s time for your annual tune up!