the Somatics blog
Exploring how the brain controls posture and movement, why we experience muscle and joint pain,
and how we can live our lives to the fullest.
The Life-Changing Link Between Anxiety and Muscle Tension
Anxiety is a true “somatic” condition: It is typically brought on and made worse not by any external source like a virus, but by our internal psychological and physiological functioning. […]
What is the Stretch Reflex (Myotatic Reflex)?
Learn why static stretching usually doesn’t accomplish much due to the myotatic reflex, more commonly referred to as the stretch reflex. […]
Getting out of the Fibromyalgia Pain Cycle
Fibromyalgia can be the result of an ongoing, self-perpetuating cycle of chronic pain, psychological stress, overactive immune system response, lack of sleep, and sensitization of the nervous system. […]
Why you can’t release your tight psoas muscle with stretching
Why you can't release your tight psoas muscle with stretching Your physical therapist, chiropractor, or yoga teacher might have told you that you have a tight psoas muscle, and they may have taught you stretching exercises to release it. While they're probably right—having a tight psoas is a very common problem—static stretching has little to [...]
5 Ways Clinical Somatics Will Change the World
5 Ways Clinical Somatics Will Change the World If you've gotten out of pain with Clinical Somatics, you know how life-changing the exercises are. To not endure pain on a daily basis frees you from stress and suffering—like loss of sleep, mood disorders, and physical degeneration related to the pain. You can also be more [...]
Adhesive Capsulitis: What Causes Frozen Shoulder, and the Most Effective Treatment
Adhesive Capsulitis: What Causes Frozen Shoulder, and the Most Effective Treatment Adhesive capsulitis is more commonly known as frozen shoulder because the condition involves a gradual “freezing” of the glenohumeral joint (shoulder joint). Over a period of weeks or months, the joint becomes painful and immobile. Initial onset to full recovery can take several [...]
The Game Changers: Why Top Athletes Are Making a Big Change
The Game Changers: Why Top Athletes Are Making a Big Change Produced by Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Cameron, and Jackie Chan, The Game Changers debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018. I was lucky to see the movie when it came to theaters nationwide for a special one-day event on September 16th, 2019. If [...]
What Really Causes Muscle Cramps?
What really causes muscle cramps? Muscle cramps have long been attributed to electrolyte depletion and dehydration, especially when they occur in athletes. However, research does not support these theories, and instead points to altered neuromuscular control and muscle fatigue as the culprits. In this post, I'll summarize the research and explain why muscle cramps [...]
Why Stretching Doesn’t Relieve Iliotibial Band Syndrome
Why Stretching Doesn't Relieve Iliotibial Band Syndrome Iliotibial band syndrome is a painful inflammatory condition of the knee joint that often plagues runners, hikers, and cyclists. Stretching is typically recommended to lengthen the iliotibial band and relieve the condition, but as you'll learn in this post, static stretching has little to no lasting effect [...]
12 Causes of Chronic Inflammation
12 Causes of Chronic Inflammation In my last two posts I've been talking about chronic inflammation. First I discussed how diet can cause inflammation and chronic pain, and then I discussed what chronic inflammation is and how it can cause many health conditions including cancer, atherosclerosis, and type 2 diabetes. This week, we'll learn [...]
What is Chronic Inflammation, and Why Is It Killing Us?
What is Chronic Inflammation, and Why Is It Killing Us? If it seems like you hear a lot about inflammation, you’re right. It’s become the latest buzzword in the health world due to research showing the link between inflammation and many chronic conditions including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and depression. Ever since these [...]
The Role of Diet in Chronic Pain
The Role of Diet in Chronic Pain In this blog, I usually focus on the muscle and joint pain that's caused by our chronic muscle tension and our habitual posture and movement; that's what Clinical Somatics is all about. However, there's another common cause of chronic pain that many people are not aware of: [...]
The Causes of SI Joint Pain and Dysfunction
The Causes of SI Joint Pain and Dysfunction The sacroiliac joints are at the true center of our skeleton, so they bear the brunt of any imbalance or sudden force that occurs in our body. In this post we'll discuss the most common causes of sacroiliac joint pain and dysfunction: imbalanced posture and movement, [...]
