The musculoskeletal system protects our internal organs, helps support the nervous system, and gives us flexibility. It is made up of muscles, bones, joints, and the soft tissues around the joints. Musculoskeletal alignment is vital for optimal health. Our skeletal muscles are in constant contraction, however excessive or abnormal muscle contraction can cause tightness, discomfort, pain and sometimes a tingling or burning sensation if the muscles are impinging on the associated tissues or nerves. Sore muscles and lack of flexibility can be due to overexertion, cramping or injury. Poor posture can cause misalignment, neck and back pain, headaches, and is also closely related to digestive dysfunction. Holistic and alternative approaches recommended by our practitioners:

Causes and Approaches

Dr. Richard Ezgur, Chiropractic Physician | Profile
Usually due to some combination of repetitive strain, poor posture and/or ergonomics, muscle imbalance (tightness & weakness), stress, and old injuries not properly treated.

Identify the key contributing factors, and correct the causes. This may include modifying a work environment, one’s exercise routine, and treatment including therapeutic exercise, manipulation, massage, acupuncture, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound.

Ed Bouchard, MPH, teaching member of AmSAT and STAT | Profile
From carrying a hand bag or other object with a shoulder strap, we can unconsciously raise our shoulder. After we take off the bag, we find we continue to raise our shoulder unconsciously, overusing and stressing the muscles.

Without telling the student they are over-tensing and raising their shoulder, manually guide a release to the shoulder muscle resting length. From the experiencing of no longer raising the shoulder, the student learns what they were doing and that there is another possibility.