B is for Breath

Muscle Energy

During my training as an osteopathic physician, I learned a technique called Muscle Energy. It’s a gentle way of working on the musculoskeletal system that brings it back into balance. The technique is simple, and the results are magical, but they are explained by the science of muscle physiology.

The technique begins by testing a muscle’s range of movement, to see in which direction the muscle movement is restricted. Then, the practitioner moves the muscle into the direction of easiest movement. This feels counterintuitive. It’s logical to want to move into the restriction and then try to push past it. But this works against the wisdom of the body. The muscle resists and tightens up more.

What Works

By moving into the direction of ease of motion and supporting the position for about two minutes, the stretch receptors in the muscle reset themselves. These receptors tell the nervous system about the length of the muscle and how fast it’s being stretched. When the practitioner retests the range of motion after the reset, there is less restriction, and usually less pain, too.

When I observed a teacher demonstrating the technique, he showed us how the patient took a deep breath as he felt the muscle tension changing under his fingers. “That usually happens,” he said.

My Experience

I know that’s true because I do this technique on myself when my neck is sore. In the moment that my muscles unwind themselves, I spontaneously take a deep breath. My whole body says, “Aah, that’s better.”

Although there is controversy over whether smiling can make you happier, taking a deep breath can remind the body that relaxation is possible. The breath is both a means of relaxation and an indicator of a successful outcome. Relaxation and pain relief begin with a micro transformation in the muscles.