Muscle health and tone!

One of the essays that I was required to write during the training to become Certified Rolfer was on “tonus”. In its most simple sense we are speaking about muscle tone. In our culture, through our influence from the fitness industry we are led to believe that the more muscle tone the better. This is not necessarily the case. The word “tone”, in relation to the soft tissues of the body should really be used in a qualitative and not a quantitative way. You see, when muscle tissue gets too “toned” it becomes what is called hypertonic. Hypertonic tissue is in a state of constant contraction and therefore never gets an opportunity to rest properly nor clean itself properly.

Muscle tissue is self cleaning. Meaning, as muscle goes through its normal function which is to contract and to release it is continually flushing itself of toxins. Its a hydrolic pump. Contraction of muscle tissue results in an effective squeezing out of fluids and the relaxation phase draws in fresh fluids to repeat the process. Like cleaning a dirty sponge under running water, squeeze and release, squeeze and release until the sponge is clean.

Conversely, muscle tissue that does not go through this natural cleaning process properly is unable to rid itself of toxins. If this continues then toxins build up and significantly reduces the tissues ability to receive and metabolize nutrients. As the toxins build up nerve function is reduced and the soft tissue begins to harden into what are commonly referred to as knots in the tissue. What makes these knots sensitive to digital pressure is the release of acidic toxins onto the nerve ending.

To make a long story short. The tissue around the knotted tissue starts to take on the qualities of the the knot and the knot starts taking on the properties of bone and will eventually become fiberous, then granular and then crunchy. The surrounding tissues will start to retain fluid in an effort to protect itself from being damaged any further. Another result of this decrease in tissue quality is that it systematically pulls  the structure out of alignment leaving the body with postural distortions. Ill talk more about that in a future entry.

Point of the story is that only through moving through a full range of motion in a well balanced way and receiving thorough and deep bodywork can the soft tissues be developed and maintained in a way that results in healthy tone. I certainly don’t want to sound like a pessimist or negative. I just think that this is important information to have in our awareness so that we can start making small adjustment to our lifestyle, more informed choices that gently result and accumulate into healthier and happier lives.

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