Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1276187
78 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k s e p t e m b e r / o c t o b e r 2 0 2 0 THE REBEL MT technique OUR BODY, OUR MACHINE The human body is like a car. We have levers and pulleys (joints and muscles); wedges and inclined planes (the diaphragm and the pelvis); wheels and axles (the rotator cuff and obliques); and some of us even have screws. We all have an ignition, and once that motor is running, the goal is to keep it running smoothly. In human anatomy, breakdowns can happen on many levels, in varying degrees, with a plethora of results, and we know what happens when a part breaks down—the whole is compromised. We see this every day in our practice. A sprain can cause a compensation pattern. Scar tissue can cause ischemia. And anxiety can cause digestive dysfunctions, among other issues. TENSION: A CATALYST FOR BREAKDOWNS Let's take a closer look at what happens when tension is the catalyst. The correlation is easily made between a tight muscle and its resulting strain or trigger point. If a part is overworked, that part can break The Anatomical Machine By Allison Denney "Body Mechanic" is a creative, concise, and common title many massage therapists give themselves. And with good reason. The body is, after all, a complex machine, which means we are technically mechanics. But what is a machine really? Let's look at one of the most familiar ones around and take it apart. (Theoretically, not literally. Because then this article would be in a different publication.) Since its launch in 1886, the automobile has seen thousands of versions and has evolved to become increasingly sleek and luxurious. But, at its basic foundation, a car is considered a compound, or complex, machine made up of a collection of simple machines that work together. Levers, pulleys, screws, inclined planes, wedges, wheels, and axles all come together to make the motor run.