Introduction
Whether we’re typing,
cleaning teeth or walking, some muscles are actively contracting. What happens
when those muscles are inactive. How well do they release back to a balanced
resting position? Amazingly, your thinking can help make sure they do.
Influencing the resting state of our muscles
Muscles contract when effort
is required. They release when the effort is over. The sequence might be
micro-seconds, for example when running : contract–release / contract–release / contract-release.
Dr Wilfred Barlow researched
the problems that arise if the resting position of muscles is unbalanced.
The cycle of contract –
release is driven by nerve impulses involving the brain and the muscles, not
just in the active work phase, but also the release phase. It is a two-way
street. The brain “asks” the muscle to contract. The muscle “replies” with
information about its length and tension. The brain then repeatedly adjusts its
request in response
Barlow made two fundamental
points:
·
When muscle is
over-contracted, there is a fall-off in accuracy of information from the muscle
to the brain. · Muscle length can be increased, purely by thinking about the release you want.
In summary, problems arise if
muscles don’t lengthen after activity, while you can help break the vicious
cycle with your conscious
thoughts about release.
What can you do
1.
Begin by
observing tension you are holding. Try this regularly at key points in the day
– say cleaning your teeth, or when you turn the computer on and off (see blog post of September 2012). Ask for
release just before you move your arm – recognising that you may not notice any
response.
2.
Practise
constructive rest (see blog post of December 2011) – where the back, arms and legs really get a chance to
release. Practise your conscious asking for release here.
3.
Organise with me
for an introductory lesson in applying Alexander Technique, or come to one of
the classes that Anne Mallen and I run.
The scienceIn this post, I am aiming to capture some of the key points about brain-muscle co-ordination that are relevant to Alexander Technique. The relevant science is much deeper than outlined here. Muscle spindles send messages to the brain about the length of the muscle while golgi tendon organs within the tendon that attaches the muscle to bone feeds information to the brain about muscle contraction. Barlow discusses muscle spindles, but not golgi tendon organs. There are many ways to find out more about the science, see for example the Journal of Neurophysiology at http://jn.physiology.org – articles in back issues can be accessed free of charge.
By muscle release, I don’t
mean total relaxation, rather lengthening back to the normal state of
readiness. We are not rag dolls.
Reference
Wilfred Barlow (1973) The Alexander Principle. Victor Gollanz,
London. The book became very popular in the 1970s, and can often be found in
second-hand bookshops. It was reprinted by Gollanz in 1990, and also published
by both Arrow and Vista. B
arlow was a medical d
octor, researcher and Alexander
Technique teacher.