Myeremia

Behold! I have coined a new term:

Myeremia — “the condition of muscular dereliction/abandonment.”

Myeremotic — “muscles that are derelict/desolate.”

Anamyeremosis — “the act of restoring muscles from a derelict/desolate state.”

Anamyeremia — “muscles restored from a derelict/desolate state.”

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Muscles function in chains. They are cooperative entities, not isolated units separate unto themselves. When a muscle abandons its roll in its chain, the posture suffers and pain and reduced range of motion are the result. Myeremia is different than paralysis. When the motor cortex is damaged, or the nerves connecting it to the muscle are compromised (ie severely damaged, severed) the muscle is paralyzed, it cannot move at all. In myeremia, the muscle could work, it just isn’t participating with the rest of the muscles; it is in dereliction of duty.

In my time as a tai chi guy and body worker, I have seen myeremotic muscles all over the body in my students and clients. Myeremia of the muscles of the lower leg (tibialis anterior and posterior) lead to plantar fasciitis and fallen arches. Myeremia of the rhomboids and latissimus dorsi cause the head to move forward, which causes neck pain. Myeremotic glutes and hamstrings cause the hips to rotate forward to cause low back pain. These myeremotic muscles don’t pull back against their partners on the opposite side of the body, which makes those muscles tighter, which leads to more pain. These are the pectoralis minor for neck pain, and the iliacus for low back pain.

Even though we are unique and wonderful snowflakes, and baring stenosis, advanced arthritis, or spinal deformity, all low back pain is caused by myeremia of the glutes and hamstrings and tight iliacus muscles. The same is also true of myeremotic rhomboids and lats with tight pec minors.

Compound exercises often exacerbate the problems. In a compound movement, the participating muscles of the chain will compensate for the myeremotic muscles. This is particularly problematic with weight training. When doing a bent over dumbbell row, for example, the pec minor will often compensate for the myeremia of the rhomboids and lats, and thereby get tighter, which makes the neck pain worse.

The best way to get a muscle back on duty, anamyeremia, is to use isometrics, which in the old days were called “muscle control”. Isometrics safely isolate the muscle so it can get coaxed back into duty without any compensation. This also improves the mind-body connection of the muscle so we start to feel it when we use it, and more importantly, notice when we stop.

The purpose of the basic exercises of medicinal martial arts is to bring the hamstrings, glutes, rhomboids, and lats back online, and stretch the iliacus and pec minor. This allows the body to correct its posture and deliver the mind from pain. It also develops body awareness and mind-body connection, which improves any sport or physical undertaking.

When using isometrics to bring muscles out of myeremia, anamyeremosis, sets should be kept low (1-2) and frequency should be daily. When learning any new skill, it is better to practice consistently than cram occasionally. After the set(s) of isometrics, gentle, slow, functional movement exercises like qigong and tai chi should be used to improve the coordination of the muscles of the chain. After that, regular exercise can be enjoyed, although stay away exercises that strain the areas you’re trying bring to anamyeremia.