How important is WATER to our bodies?
by Dennis Gibbons, LMT
Fluids make up approximately 90% of the adult body, with water accounting for 70%. At conception the united cells are approximately 96% water and at birth 80%. ? These statistics come from the book “The True Power of Water: Healing and Discovering Ourselves”©, Masaru Emoto, 2003, Atria Books. If the body develops in water and is surrounded by fluid, why don’t we use these same fluids in balancing the posture. How much easier would it be to surround the joint with fluid and allow the soft tissue flow when the release is made?
The joints allow the gross or major movement of the body, in particular the hip and shoulder joints. The smaller articulations assist the joints in permitting the body to move without restriction. If all of these joints and articulations are surrounded by fluid the ability of the body to function would be less restrictive. In Cranio-Sacral therapy the gentle rocking and holding helps to balance the cerebrospinal fluid which in turn energizes the spinal nerves. Using the same technique to the major joints and articulations, facilitating this fluid balance would accomplish two major phenomena:
1. Creating buoyancy for the structure which takes the majority of stress off of the region.
2. The fluid enhances the conductivity of the nerves. Remember the joints have the greatest amount of nerve intervention.
Another accomplishment of this technique is the segmenting of the posture or allowing the structure to move properly in its center. This segmentation is critical when dealing with chronic pain. In chronic pain scenarios the connective tissue fluid becomes “bogged” down and the cellular fluid thickens. When the fluid becomes too thick it restricts the ability of the connective tissue to move freely. The immobility of the tissue creates the infamous micro tears that create the dreaded scar tissue we often hear about.
An aspect of Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® is to palpate these areas and through a gentle rocking motion bring about a homeostatic environment to release the soft tissue. There is less restriction in the tissue, less discomfort to the individual receiving the therapy and a more secure place for the soft tissue to release to.
As a therapist, by incorporating this philosophy, there will be a less invasive pathway to the release of the specific trigger point. It becomes easier to palpate and determine if the soft tissue is “locked” in a concentric or eccentric contraction.
Since the incorporation of this technique the results have shown a longer lasting Postural Balance and a more general overall sense of well being by the client.
Remember the body develops in water and it is critical for the body to be able to respond to the effects of gravity. So besides drinking water for all of the other reasons, it is important to replace the body’s water so that it is able to function more efficiently. Remember, structure determines movement and the more fluid the structure is able to move, the less chance for injury and discomfort.
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