Hey everyone! Let’s talk about something that’s always hanging around—quite literally—your posture.
Now, before you roll your eyes and straighten your back (you know you just did), let’s dive into how two famous laws from the world of biomechanics—Hooke’s Law and Wolff’s Law—are secretly governing your posture. Think of them as the Batman and Robin of your biomechanical universe, working to keep you standing tall or letting you slump over in defeat.
Hooke’s Law: The Elastic Band in Your Body
Let me tell you about Sarah. Sarah is a busy office worker who spends hours a day hunched over her computer. One day, she noticed that her back pain had become a constant companion, as reliable as her morning coffee.
When Sarah finally came to see me, she learned about Hooke’s Law. Imagine her surprise when she found out that her muscles and tendons were acting like over-stretched elastic bands! Hooke’s Law says that these tissues stretch in proportion to the force applied to them, which is why her slouching habit was leaving her muscles saggy and ineffective, just like an old elastic band that’s lost its snap.
But here’s the silver lining: Hooke’s Law also means that by starting to practice good posture, Sarah’s muscles and tendons could regain their elasticity. After diligently practicing the Alignment First exercises I gave her, within weeks, those elastic bands were starting to work in her favor, pulling her back into alignment.
Wolff’s Law: The Body’s Remodeling Crew
Then there’s Ben. Ben is a weightlifter who, despite his impressive muscles, started developing some pretty intense back pain. He discovered that even though his muscles were strong, his bones were starting to show the strain of poor lifting form and compromised posture.
Enter Wolff’s Law: Ben learned that his bones were like a constantly renovating house, adapting to the loads they were under. Because he was lifting and standing with poor posture, his bones were remodeling themselves to support that bad form. It’s as if his body was reinforcing the very habits that were causing his pain—imagine trying to fix a crooked wall by adding more crooked beams!
With some simple changes to his training regimen, including how he performs his exercises, Ben’s training began to support good posture rather than detract from it. His bones will remodel in a healthy way. Over time, his body’s “construction crew” will work with him instead of against him.
Hooke + Wolff = Your Posture Power Duo
Sarah and Ben’s stories show how Hooke’s and Wolff’s Laws can either be your greatest allies or your worst enemies when it comes to posture.
The good news? You have the power to direct these forces in your favor. Like Sarah, you can retrain your elastic bands to support good posture, and like Ben, you can encourage your bones to remodel in a way that supports your body instead of sabotaging it.
The Takeaway: Be the Boss of Your Posture
In the grand scheme of biomechanics, you’re the boss of how Hooke’s and Wolff’s Laws play out in your body. They’re there to support whatever habits you decide to cultivate, good or bad. So why not give them the right orders? That’s where the Alignment First Protocol comes in. Your muscles and bones will thank you by making good posture be more automatic and feel more natural over time.
And remember, even though we’re talking laws here, they’re not set in stone. You have the power to change the way your body responds. So, go out there and be the posture superhero you were meant to be—Hooke and Wolff are ready to follow your lead!
Although lifespans are getting longer, I continue to hear horror stories about people losing their mobility and independence. Imagine living more than one hundred years, but needing multiple joint replacement surgeries and spending the last twenty years of your life in a wheelchair because of your back and knees! That doesn't have to be your future. Don’t let it happen to you or your loved ones!
P.S.
If you “get” this information but are unsure how to apply it to yourself, I’ve got good news! Next month, I am launching my 6-week video course called Practical Rehab.
In this course, you’ll receive video instructions on how to practice the ten exercise progressions of the Alignment First Protocol. Every Sunday, we’ll have a Zoom call to get all your questions answered.
And to make sure I overdeliver on my promise to do everything I can to solve your back pain problems, you’ll also get four one-hour one-on-one video sessions with me to finish the course.
As a bonus for trusting me with your health and allowing me to use video and images from the course for marketing, I’m offering you this opportunity at a 50% discount.
If you’re interested in applying to join this small inaugural class (5 seats remaining), send me an email at geoff@alignmentfirst.ca
Yours in health,
Geoff Dakin
