Don’t stretch a nerve
Neurologist yesterday: “It’s well known and long established science you don’t stretch a nerve to relieve pain. That’s just well known.” My conversation with a reknowned cognitive performance neurologist with special forces and aviation yesterday. How did we come to believe stretching relieves pain in the first place? High school sports paradigms? The anesthetic effect for 20 min following? The strengthening we do that masks the impairment of pulling? Paradigm shift: nerves are some of the first tissue to come under tension when a limb or the spine are pulled to max range of motion. Put your arm in the positions in the picture: that’s nerve tension, NOT muscle tightness. Don’t pull into that kind of pain. Pulling the head and neck on a fixed trunk can aggravate nerves like the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve and other cranial nerves will be affected at high Gz over +4Gz as well as any other whiplash or concussive forces to the upper neck. (Mountain biking falls, soccer, MVAs, slips on ice, gun blasts, self defense practice.) Paradigm shift: know how to keep the skull and neck stable during activities, but allow the natural mobility within anatomical limits. Understanding a maintenance program keeps the brain and spine healthy. Understand nerve glides don’t make a nerve longer. Understand what tension in your body is nerve. Muscles don’t come under tension very often. So how did we come to believe pulling is helpful? A question that pervades my mind and the minds of my clients looking to optimize function and avoid limitations. This understanding is imparitive to aviation and SOF more than orher populations. Tell your friends at the holiday parties or happy hour. Like and share to get the word out. Reach out with questions [email protected]
