When we think about longevity and staying healthy for as long as possible, one of the most important factors is functional movement. While this may sound like just another buzzphrase, it’s not! If you want to live a long healthy life, you have to prioritize the basics. So, what exactly is functional movement? Simply put, it’s the ability to move your body with proper muscle and joint function for effortless, pain-free movement. There are several things that get in the way of us achieving this type of optimal movement. Let’s discuss these and how neuromuscular therapy can help.

Functional Movement Contributes To Longevity

Walking, squatting, bending – these are all foundational movements that we use every day. Whether it’s picking your baby up off the floor or squatting a heavy barbell – it should be done with proper body mechanics. What’s more, we want to create balance in the body by not performing overly repetitive motions for long periods of time. For example, if you sit at your desk for 8 hours then walking makes an excellent addition to your day. Taking breaks to walk or work at a standing desk periodically will be more balanced. When we perform any movement (or no movement) for long periods of time, the involved muscles begin to tighten up. The normally smooth and slippery fascia around the muscles can start to get sticky and cause what we call adhesions. If left untreated, the adhesions can begin to decrease your range of motion and eventually lead to pain. All of the sudden, you have plantar fasciitis and can’t walk, or your knee hurts when you squat. Just like that, your functional movement becomes compromised.

Regular Neuromuscular Therapy Benefits

Usually, once people come to our office, they have been dealing with nagging or chronic pain for months – sometimes years! They may be unable to perform daily tasks or their favorite hobby. With our manual techniques, we can release adhesions and get you back to the functional movement you need to live a long healthy life.

NMT is not your average massage, and we don’t typically see the therapeutic benefit in investing one hour a month in your bodywork. The trick to keeping your body in working order is more regular tune-ups. We recommend weekly or biweekly NMT sessions so any adhesions and tightness in the muscles or joints can be addressed before it gets worse. To learn more about our practice and how we can help you move better and live longer, contact us or set up an appointment. We can discuss your concerns and get you on the right track.