The Secret Potion to Stay in Motion
I’d be lying if I professed to know the exact amount of money spent each year on joint
replacements, physical therapy and treatments for joint issues in the aging population,
but as a former knee and hip surgical equipment salesman, I know it’s a boatload.
In this article, you’re going to learn why these injuries occur in the first place and what
you can do about it.
Overworked Bodies and Neglected Joints
Exercise enthusiasts and active folks often tend to prioritize “conditioning” and ignore
activities that don’t make us breathe hard or feel the burn. Mobility is possibly the
most neglected basic ability in endurance training programs, especially for high-volume
athletes such as Ironman triathletes or marathoners.
Time and time again I have seen athletes or exercise enthusiasts who can hammer like
animals on the bike all day long or spend every single morning in the gym. But they can’t
do the basics, such as a simple squat or push-up.
As a result, these seemingly fit folks are predisposed to all of the disadvantages that
accompany this lack of basic mobility, including:
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Muscle tightness that creates ugly postural imbalances
For example, shoulders rolling forward in a hunchback pattern.
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Soft tissue, muscle, fascia and tendon restrictions
Such as extremely tight IT bands (on the sides of the thighs), tight and immobile
rotator cuffs in the shoulders, and restricted neck and upper back muscles.
•
Joint capsule restriction in the knees, hips and shoulders
A fibrous tissue sac called the joint capsule surrounds each of your joints. This
capsule is filled with a fluid called synovial fluid that lubricates your tissues and
the spaces within the capsule. When the joint capsule is immobile, fluid can build
up in the joint and the tissue can’t move properly.
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Muscular restrictions and faulty movement patterns
It’s not just your joints that get restricted. Since your muscles themselves are
comprised of fiber and are surrounded by a spider-webbish sheath called fascia,
immobility in this soft tissue can also cause some serious movement deficits.
•
Overworking of muscles
When a joint is immobile, the joint above or below it is forced to take up the slack
or significantly assist with a motion it’s really not suited for.
Let’s check out how neglected joints can manifest into a joint ultimately falling apart …
How a Joint Degrades
You have three types of joints: synovial joints, cartilaginous joints, and fibrous joints.
Synovial joints
These joints are the most common and are held together by ligaments. They have
cartilage covering the articular surface, which is at the ends of both bones and where
movement occurs in the joint. Synovial joints contain a fluid called synovial fluid, which
provides lubrication between these two bone ends. As a result, synovial joints allow a
great deal of movement but can also be more susceptible to injury.
Cartilaginous joints
These joints are held together by ligaments and also have cartilage between the two bone
ends. However, cartilaginous joints do not have synovial fluid and therefore have more
restricted movement potential. Cartilaginous joints are located in areas where stability is
more important than flexibility, such as your spine and ribs.
Fibrous joints (aka fixed joints)
They are connected only by dense fibrous connective tissue, with almost no movement.
For example, each separate section of your skull is held together with a fibrous joint.
There are three ways in which any of these joints can become injured: overstretching,
compression, or overuse. Often, it is a combination of these three factors that causes a
joint injury.
Overuse of a joint can also cause joint injuries via a gradual breakdown of the articular
surface. This again can affect all aspects of the joint, but wearing of the cartilage is
usually the most significant. Over time, just like a hinge becoming rusty, cartilage can
become worn due to repeated stress.
In addition, you lose fluid from your cartilage as you age, which reduces the potential for
cartilage to absorb shock. This further increases the risk of injury. As the cartilage wears,
the two ends of bone can come into contact and cause damage.
How to Keep Your Joints from Getting Destroyed
With a few simple mobility drills worked into your weekly routine, this could all be
avoided. Let’s look at three ways this can be accomplished (aka “the secret potion”):
1. Weekly Self Deep Tissue Work
Perform 20-30 “passes” with the foam roller on each muscle group outlined
below. One “pass” means rolling up the muscle group and back down the muscle
group one time.
2. Dynamic Stretching
Dynamic stretching is a stark contrast to static stretching in terms of its ability to
adequately prepare you for a workout session or improve mobility. And studies
have shown that dynamic stretching can improve power, strength, and
performance during a subsequent exercise session.
When you’re dynamic stretching, you’re not just “pulling on” a specific muscle
group like you do when static stretching. Instead, dynamic stretching
incorporates posture control, stability, balance, and even ballistic and
explosive movements such as swings and kicks.
Try these before your next workout, or just after you’ve warmed up:
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Leg Swings
Frankenstein Walk
Walking Lunge
Bent Torso Twists
Deep Body Weight Squats
Keep in mind that your muscles are way more pliable in higher temperatures.
Doing a quick cardio warm up for 5-10 minutes before dynamically stretching is a
perfect way to prep your muscles.
3. MOTION from Life Matters
MOTION is the ultimate in joint and tissue nutrition. This product helps to restore
mobility and flexibility, protects and rebuilds your body’s connective tissue, and
bonus… it’s fast acting!
MOTION is packed with UC-II®, a Harvard-proven ingredient that’s imperative
for your body’s performance, flexibility and protection. Plus, it has hyaluronic
acid (HLA), which is shown to increase synovial fluid production! This is lube
for your joints. Just think of what oil did for the Tin Man. This is what HLA does
for your joints.
Adventure is Calling … Go Get It!
We know that staying active is crucial to your health, happiness and fun factor! By
consistently performing deep tissue work, dynamically stretching, and taking
MOTION, you’ll discover the secret potion to protect your body and quite literally
DEFY AGE!