August 03, 2007
Welcome to August’s edition of The eZone.
I was really pleased to read the latest findings by Prof Jim Deuchars in the Journal of Neuroscience this month. His research shows how the neck muscles could play a crucial role in controlling blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. They believe as we move these muscles help to make necessary adjustments to cope with changes in position. As an Alexander Technique Teacher I am well aware of the importance of the neck muscles and I have written about it extensively in the past.
This issue of The eZone will look at the neck and its reflexes from a training point of view. To read about Prof Deuchars’ study please click here
Regards
Roy Palmer
You can also view this ezine online by clicking here
In this issue
1. Make Like A Giraffe!
2. Have You Got The Brakes On?
3. Is Your Sport A Pain in the Neck?
4. Special August Offer
1. Make Like A Giraffe!
When I take the kids the local wildlife park I love to watch the giraffes. What an amazing neck! The role of the neck muscles in movement is easier to see in four legged animals. Check out this video on YouTube of a cheetah running and notice how their head stays facing towards their prey evening when turning sharply. There’s a saying that the ‘head leads, the body follows’ and I think these shots show this perfectly.
Whilst its not so obvious in humans the neck muscles are still hugely influential in coordinating movement. There are few better athletes that demonstrate this than Roger Federer. Just take a look at these slow motion videos in action and see how he keeps watching the ball. Following his shot, watch how quickly he is able to recover and get himself in position for the next shot. Now watch his left arm and see how it reflexively balances his movement. This can be done without conscious thought because his head and neck righting reflexes are able to work unimpeded by inappropriate tension in his neck.
A superb example of poise in action!
2. Have You Got The Brakes On?
Roger Federer exemplifies maximum movement with minimum effort. We could all enhance performance, reduce sports injury and generally make sport so much more enjoyable if we could learn to reduce interference with movement. If you have not already tried my chair test check out your basic biomechanics and see if you could free up your movements.
Unnecessary tension in the neck is effectively applying the brakes on movement. The muscles in this area are involved in coordination and the common habit of tightening the neck or jaw muscles will effect its function. More about the workings of these muscles and your sense of effort can be found in my first book, The Performance Paradox, now available online, to read further on this subject please click here
3. Is Your Sport A Pain in the Neck?
In my teaching practice I see at least half a dozen people a week suffering from a stiff neck. This is a very common condition and in many cases fairly easy to correct. Stress, bad posture and poor body use are usually the main causes of a stiff neck. Whilst it is rarely serious (although I do advise everyone with this condition to see their doctor) it can seriously reduce your activities as everything becomes hard work. An understanding of the neck reflexes highlights why a stiff neck can be a huge inconvenience for sports people.The first thing I always look at is how are they moving and supporting their necks. Take a look at my page on neck pain for more information.
4. August's Special Offer
One of the ‘best sellers’ on my website is How To Treat Your Stiff Neck, not surprisingly considering how common this condition is. It contains 15 unique techniques to help reduce neck pain and tension. This program sells for $27 but as a valued reader of The eZone you can download it for just $17, that’s around a 40% discount!
For more information please click here. If you would like to take advantage of this special offer please click eZone August Offer
Thanks to all the golfers who responded last month. I will be contacting you shortly with a questionnaire and how you could help me over the next few months.
I'm off to the west coast of France soon. If you're having a break do have a good one and don’t forget to check those jaw and neck muscles when reaching for your ice cold beer :0)
Regards
Roy