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When each muscle of the body is able to work in perfect synchrony, peak athletic performance is achieved. Each individual muscle has elemental needs in order to operate with full power. Proper hydration, high quality nutrition and seamless delivery of oxygen are absolutely essential. However the most important element is muscle activation through a nerve signal. Muscle contraction is completely dependent upon signals from the brain.
Christopher Reeve, the original Superman, is a perfect example of the loss of nerve signal. He was thrown from his horse during an equestrian competition. He fractured the top two vertebrae in his neck and damaged his spinal cord. The damage to the spinal cord completely cut off the nerve signals to his body. This resulted in a complete loss of function in the muscles that were controlled by those nerves. Every muscle needs clear nerve signals in order to function to their full potential.
Nerve signals start in the brain and travel down the spinal cord, out along the nerves and then activate the muscle at the neuromuscular junction. When the signal arrives at the muscle, it initiates the contraction of the muscle. Any change to the signal along the way will alter the muscle’s function.
With any movement of the body more than one muscle is being used. In order for the entire body to move correctly, all of the muscles must work together in a synchronized fashion. Muscles do not communicate with one another. Instead, they receive their individual instructions from the brain.
Muscle coordination occurs in the brain. Whenever any movement is performed, the joints and muscles of the body send rapid signals to the brain to tell it how much strain or resistance is being experienced. These signals also report the position of the body in relationship to gravity. The brain takes all of that information and determines how much each muscle needs to contract to perform the movement. The brain then sends nerve signals down to the hundreds of muscles involved in making the body move. This means that for every jump, sprint, tire lift, or throw, the brain processes tremendous amounts of information to ensure that it is moving correctly.
Breakdown in Strength
Any interference to these nerve signals either to or from the brain will have a significant effect on athletic performance. Diminished coordination will limit strength, compromise agility and increase vulnerability to injury.
The most vulnerable area for this nerve interference to occur is the upper neck in an area called the craniocervical junction (CCJ). The craniocervical junction consists of the skull and the top bone of the neck, called the atlas. The joints in the CCJ are the weakest in the entire spine. Head injuries, sports impacts, concussions and whiplash all have the potential to misalign the CCJ and lead to interference in nerves that coordinate muscle function of the body.
The brain sends nerve signals down the spinal cord and out across nerves to each muscle individually. It is the brain’s responsibility to coordinate all the muscles to work together, leading to efficient and powerful whole body movement.
Restoring Peak Performance
Correcting the alignment of the craniocervical junction restores normal nerve signals between the brain and the body. Muscle strength increases, coordination improves and the body is less vulnerable to injury. Proper correction of this area is done through upper cervical care. Upper cervical chiropractors use calculated corrections to ensure nerve signals improve and the body’s coordination returns. Improving nerve signals in the body and through the brain unlocks maximum physical potential.
Seek the Experts
Upper cervical chiropractors have a unique focus on correcting misalignments of the craniocervical junction that can lead to brain and body dysfunction. Their post-graduate training prepares them to identify subtle misalignments in this area and correct it using a variety of gentle and precise corrective techniques. Designed to be a long-term solution, the goal of these doctors is to correct and stabilize the upper cervical spine to restore the integrity of the nervous system. If you have concerns about you or your family’s health care, seek your local upper cervical chiropractor.