Matthew Burrell N.D.
Naturopath and Neuromuscular Therapist
Do you wake with pain and stiffness? Are you slow to get out of a chair after sitting for a while? Do you struggle to move like you did when you were younger?
Well things don’t have to be this way!
Whilst your cells are alive you can improve them! The central player in this picture is a loss of range of motion which is a key focus of our unique technique called the R-SYSTEM.
THE BENEFITS OF A HEALTHY RANGE OF MOTION
Having a healthy range of motion is essential for fluent movement, balance, speed, reaction time, endurance and strength.
Let’ unpack this………
Firstly, range of motion is defined as the distance and direction that a joint can move to achieve its maximum potential. Not surprisingly this would allow fluent movement during any activity. This is what we appreciate when we see the grace of a ballet dancer, the acrobatics of a gymnast or even the ease that a great golfer hits a ball.
Loss of range of motion can have huge consequences.
For example, the often-dire falls of the elderly are directly associated with poor balance and slow reaction time which are range of motion dependent. The frustration of not getting from A to B as quickly as we age is also linked to reduced range of motion. The simple fact that reduced range of motion equals reduced stride length is testament to this. Furthermore, if you have to take more strides to get to where you want to go, you will use more energy and run out of steam quicker. Therefore, you will have decreased endurance. When you move through a greater range of motion you engage more muscles and therefore build greater strength. Ageing is also called SARCOPENIA. A Latin word that means loss of muscle.
As you can see range of motion is pretty damn important!
HOW DO YOU MEASURE YOUR RANGE OF MOTION?
Aside from noticing a loss of ability to do certain tasks you can specifically see where your range of motion stacks up against normal expectations. We use a device called a goniometer to measure range of motion. It provides a scoreboard to show the improvements gained from our R-System treatments. It doesn’t matter how long the decrease in range of motion has been present, there is always possible improvements available.
HOW DOES THE R-SYSTEM HELP YOU TO IMPROVE YOUR RANGE OF MOTION?
What makes the R-System so unique is that it works on the naturopathic philosophy of enhancing the body’s own healing mechanisms. This is achieved by relaxing the affected muscles, correcting postural misalignment, and then promoting range of motion.
The R-System is focused on addressing all the factors that are causative in decreased range of motion. As well as the bio-mechanical focus it also respects the biochemical contributors. For example, a joint that has been freed up and a muscle that has been loosened may still need a nutrient to guarantee its future relaxation and healing. This is where the combination of biomechanics and biochemistry is the Gold Standard of treatment.
I feel so blessed to be one of the few practitioners in Australia who have been trained in this technique.
If you feel that your range of motion is not helping you to achieve your best life please feel free to contact me at any time.
Otherwise at the very least, please consider implementing some daily stretches into your life or practice yoga on a regular basis.
Take care,
Matthew Burrell
