“The constituents of matter and the basic phenomena involving them are all interconnected, interrelated, and interdependent….They cannot be understood as isolated entities, but only as integrated parts of the whole.”– Fritjof Capra, The Tao of Physics
A muscle has to have something stable to anchor off of.
A straight big toe will remain straight, when it has something stable to anchor off of.
When muscles and ligaments provide the stability throughout the midfoot, rearfoot and lower leg, the big toe and the rest of the chain are rewarded.
(Leverage)
When your forefoot makes contact with the ground, the toes spread out to find more ground for a bigger base (platform) for the foot and the entire chain.
Your foot is equipped with the muscles and ligaments to provide you with a built-in support system.
This natural support system is not only for your foot, it is the foundation (a platform!) for everything from above to be successful.
(Proprioception)
The mechanoreceptors throughout the skin on the sole of your foot are always searching for the ground.
As your unique tribe of mechanorecoptors, and the skin on the sole of your forefoot that houses them, touches down, the big toe searches for more real estate immediately.
Imagine you are standing on a clock with your left foot; the big toe is at 12:00 o’clock: Your forefoot touches down *and* the big toe reaches out to somewhere in between 12:00 and 1:00 o’clock.
A runner who naturally loads the forefoot first can take advantage of the big toe faster than a heel striker.
Timing is everything. (Emphasis Added)
(Efficiency)
Let’s pretend that you have never heard this:
Any form of stretching; usually a technique with a clever story (a lever!) that involves an outside force will dampen the neurological input to a muscle(s). This dampening of the input leaves the circuits (nerves) sluggish and the human chain takes on the mechanical properties of a Slinky.
Photograph from http://barefooting-it.blogspot.com/
The tibialis posterior is the deepest muscle in your posterior calf.
Your tibialis posterior attaches to 11 bones and the interosseus membrane (fascia).
The tibialis posterior attaches to 9 of the 26 bones throughout the plantar (sole) side of the foot.
When tibialis posterior is receiving optimal input from the brain and the spinal cord (central nervous system), it provides more stability throughout the lower leg, midfoot and the rearfoot.
A tibialis posterior that is functioning optimally provides the big toe with a stable environment from which the intrinsic muscles (foot only) of the big toe can anchor off of.
Without a tibialis posterior, the soleus can not live up to its full potential as a built-in spring.
(Boing)
Take a moment to revisit the image of the barefoot runner.
The barefoot runner’s right foot is flat (loaded) and the lower leg is over the foot.
The lower leg follows the forefoot, midfoot *and* rearfoot in order to be an effective shock absorber.
You can also see the extreme bend in his knee; another component of shock absorption.
(Curiosity)
You might have noticed the relationship between the lower leg and the ankle (a hinge joint). The lower leg is flexed at the ankle joint and the motion is occurring in the sagittal plane (front to back).
This is an important distinction and the missing link with any form of stretching that involves an outside force.
*Everything* you learned in an anatomy book about a muscle’s actions changes dramtically when the foot is on the ground, e.g., Sports.
(Perspective)
In order for the barefoot runner to get the extreme flexion of the lower leg at the knee joint, the lower leg had to take advantage of the transverse plane (rotation) *and* the frontal plane (side to side).
The lower leg rotates in and the lower leg abducts to absorb.
Any form of stretching that involves an outside force only emphasizes one plane.
The human chain loads (pronation) and unloads (supination) in *all* three planes.
Muscles *pull*.
The neuromuscular (fascial) system has to generate enough internal force to overcome gravity (a pull!) *and* momentum.
(Principles)
Your neuromuscular system is your first line of defense against an injury.
A muscle senses *any* stretching that involves an outside force as a stressor.
The muscle(s) perceives the external force as a negative force.
(Static Stretching) (“Active” Stretching) (Trigger Points) (Release)
The specialists can address the tissues with the best intentions *and* the most ferocious focus, but the principles (science) remains the same.
Principles don’t change, but world views (perspectives!) do.
*Every* muscle that crosses a joint(s) has to be able to contract (stabilize) when called upon, moment-to-moment. (Emphasis Added)
(Biomechanics)
The neuromuscular (fascial) system has to engage, capture (harness!) all of that elastic energy, *stabilize*, and then generate enough internal force to pull everything back home in order to overcome gravity.
The goal is an optimal stiffness throughout.
(Boing)
START.
(Art)
FINISH
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