Saturday 12th October
In the first 3 weeks of care, your body is forming new habits and learning the skills of working in a different way. As you get adjusted, it is common for you to notice your body changing as it is getting used to being adjusted. Some people notice areas of tension or tightness starting to ease or feel different. Different areas of weakness can start to feel stronger as your body starts to move more symmetrically, some notice how their mobility starts to improve.
These feelings occur as the joints in your body start to regain normal movement and function. The tensioned muscles around them may start to ease off, because the joints they are supporting are less overworked or stressed, because they, in turn, are no longer supporting a dysfunctional area of your spine. As your joints start regaining normal function, the muscles around them will relax and start working how they are supposed to. In this relaxed way, the muscles can contract and work better when they are needed, so can support your spine further.
Over the next 6 weeks, your body has the capacity to get stronger. This happens as the joints in your spine start to increase in both function and their range of motion. The muscles and tissues supporting that area now have to work harder to support the joints. Just as your muscles get worked out when you exercise, these muscles build in endurance and strength. They get stronger and they can stabilise and control the area so much better.
Over 6 months, the connective tissue in your body can dramatically change. This includes the ligaments, tendons and fascia around your joints. Your connective tissue changes, so much so that, right now, how your body is currently working, is due to the demands that were placed on it over the last 6 months. It is formed depending on what forces, stressors and positions you regularly impose upon your body or subject your body to. What you did with your body in the last 6 months significantly impacts how you are feeling and functioning right now. Imagine if you have been doing the same thing for years, or even decades. Even if your body has learnt certain patterns and habits over years, 6 months of making good changes, small improvements, can make a substantial difference. You have a choice, of cementing in the habits you already have (if you have good habits, keep them going!) or making some small changes to create better habits.
As humans, we generally overestimate what we can do in 3 weeks and underestimate what we can do in 6 months. Repetition and consistency are key to making any changes in life, and your body is no different.
