ELDOA: In-Depth

To understand how the ELDOA work and can have this many benefits, we are looking at 3 main components:

• anatomy of the spine

• fascia

• hydration

Anatomy of the Spine

Simply put, we can say that the spine is made up out of vertebrae and intervertebral discs. 

The vertebrae are bony structures that change shape depending on its function in the spine, i.e. flexing/forward folding, extending/back bending, rotating/twisting etc.

The vertebral body, the centre of the bony structure, is similarly shaped for all the vertebrae in the spine; the vertebral body connects to the intervertebral disc.

The intervertebral discs are very efficient shock absorbers in a healthy human being. You can imagine them as a sponge; they have a great ability to absorb and excrete liquid and therefore can distribute forces equally and in all directions.

Spine Conditions

From the age of 20, the discs start to slowly lose some of their definition, making them less efficient in absorbing shocks. This process continues with age and can cause degenerative discs potentially resulting in a bulging, slipped, herniated or ruptured disc which is often paired with acute or chronic back pain, or in lumbar sciatica.

During the day, as we sit and stand, the axial force of gravity places pressure on our spine. The water inside the inner core of the vertebral disc escapes into the vertebral body through small pores. During the night, when we lie flat, there is no axial gravitational force applied to the spine and in a healthy individual, the vertebral disc draws the water back and the disc regains its original thickness. The spine is more flexible with its discs loaded with water, in the morning. (But note that the muscles and tissues around the spine are less-mobile in the morning!)
With age, the water-absorbing ability of the disc decreases, meaning that the disc doesn’t regain its original thickness, which explains why older people become shorter and less flexible.

Fascia

“Fascia is the biological fabric that holds us together, the connective tissue network. You are about 70 trillion cells — neurons, muscle cells, epithelia — all humming in relative harmony; fascia is the 3D spider web of fibrous, gluey, and Fasciawet proteins that binds them together in their proper placement.”
Tom Myers - Anatomy Trains

When our fascia is hydrated and healthy, it is able to slide, to reconstruct and reorganize itself when needed.

When our fascia is dehydrated, you can imagine it as leather-like. It will take a lot longer to reconstruct or reorganize itself, the manipulating of fascia for example through ELDOA or massage can be more painful.

Hydration

For your fascia to be healthy, for it to move, reconstruct and reorganize itself, and to respond to the ELDOA you need to be hydrated.

According to DO Guy Voyer, it can take up to six weeks to rehydrate yourself, so you might as well start now!

Click here to calculate your daily water intake

The colour and amount of urine that your body produces are good indicators of your hydration status. Dark yellow urine or a low urine output are signs of dehydration.

ELDOA: Fascia and the Spine

All the way along the spine runs a ligament called the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament. 

This ligament connects to each individual vertebra and disc. It also connects to our nerves, the protective fluid around our spinal cord (cerebral spinal fluid - CBS) and to the fascia network that runs throughout our entire body, connecting bones, muscles, organs and everything else in the body.

By holding a precise posture for 1 minute, fascial tension, in the PLL and other muscles and fascia connections, is used to fix a specific vertebra (or segment of an articulation) while a contraction in extreme range moves the other segment away with a maximum effort throughout the entire body, this is how we decoapt, and rehydrate the intervertebral disc.

The space created through an ELDOA in between a set of vertebrae can:

• rehydrate the intervertebral disc and potentially thinning disc

• slow down the process of degenerative discs

• free any trapped nerves

  • think of a herniated disc, sciatica and the vagus nerve

• improve posture

• ensure a free flowing of CSB (Cerebral Spinal Fluid) along the spine going to the brain

• and more (see above)

ELDOA: Fascia and the Body

As Guy Voyer followed his client’s progress through x-rays to see what was working and why, he also got their feedback. It was to be expected that after a regular ELDOA practice their back pain improved, what came as a surprise was that other physical ailments improved.

“When I met with a patient I would ask, ‘How is your back pain?’ They would answer, ‘Yes, thank you, it is better, but even better, my menstrual pain is gone’ or ‘the burning sensation when I eat has improved’, or ‘my headache is gone’, or ‘now I breathe better when I sleep.’”

Through the fascia network, the muscular system is linked to the nervous- and visceral system via the spinal cord; meaning that when doing an ELDOA the rehydration of the fascia travels throughout the body and affects not only the spine but everything that is connected to it.
This can result in various holistic health benefits from reduced stress and better sleep to improved digestion and many more!

Let’s Practice ELDOA!

Are you ready to try out ELDOA and experience the numerous benefits first-hand?
Contact me for private or corporate sessions:

“I have been dealing with pain from several sports injuries (over use) for many years.  The ELDOA method has helped me regain greater joint mobility and flexibility.  My posture has improved and I can to continue to enjoy my active lifestyle. 
As an instructor Anne brings a tremendous focus to details and proper techniques, her background in yoga and meditation brings a completeness to the lessons. I highly recommend Anne and ELDOA.”

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