If you rest, you rust.” The late American actress Helen Hayes is credited with this quote from her 1990 Memoir entitled, My Life in Three Acts. I recently saw this quote on Facebook in a picture next to a gymnast and thought it was an appropriate concept in regards to what I do as a chiropractor. If taken out of context, one could easily argue that this quote is false. Sure, rest is absolutely essential for health, but in the context of joint motion and how dysfunctional movement affects your health, it’s spot on.
You see, as your body is adapting to the stresses of life you develop dysfunctional movement patterns in the joints of your body, especially the spine, as a result of the physical stress caused by your body adapting to physical, chemical, and emotional stresses. When a joint in your body becomes fixated or stuck, the health of that joint immediately begins to deteriorate. Much like a hinge on a gate that has been exposed to the elements and not been opened for a long period of time, it becomes rusty and stiff.
If you don’t have a strategy for correcting these patterns then they are definitely affecting your health. This is what maintaining health is all about. Your body has requirements in order to express health, and you employ strategies for meeting these requirements…or not. Do you brush your teeth every day? If so, you are employing a strategy for keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Do you change the oil regularly in your car? If so, you’re employing a strategy for keeping your car healthy.
A healthy body requires that you consume certain nutrients and avoid toxicity. A healthy body requires that you manage stresses well and avoid negativity. A healthy body requires healthy movement. A healthy body requires a clear brain-body connection.
These are all requirements that can be met through various strategies. Chiropractic care is the only strategy that focuses on keeping your spinal joints moving appropriately and the brain-body pathways clear. Chiropractic, coupled with a functional fitness and mobility program, is a recipe for success and keeps your joints from “rusting”.
If you get your spine checked on a regular basis, good for you. If not, schedule an appointment today to get checked and learn more about strategies for health.
A healthy body requires that you manage stresses well and avoid negativity. A healthy body requires healthy movement. A healthy body requires a clear brain-body connection.
