Fusion

Fusion power is a fascinating topic. The energy released under fusion conditions is unlike anything we have created yet. The sun is our only experience with how powerful this phenomenon can be. However, nature on Earth also makes use of this quality. One example could be a powerlifter attempting to move the heaviest deadlift of his life, or a volleyball player going for her most impressive spike. What I mean by this is that we are capable of fusing tissues together in order to perform at a high level. The trouble arrives when we cannot defuse that situation.

I am not a physicist, though defining fusion is fairly easy with the help of the internet. Essentially, if you take two lighter things and smush them together, you can get something heavier. Let’s first imagine the lower vertebrae in the spine. They are large compared to all other vertebrae and they can absorb or produce quite a bit of force. If a scenario arises where something very forceful needs to be done, say in a sporting event, we are capable of locking those vertebrae together to create the maximal amount of energy possible. This is a form of fusion, and in brief moments of need it is an incredible strategy to produce immense power. Defusing those vertebrae to allow for more mobility then becomes the issue at hand.

Over time, a loss of mobility can be due to a fusion strategy that never let go. Tissues can become glued together for long durations and undoing that is a challenge. Most of our daily activities require some degree of mobility, meaning joints moving with respect to one another, allowing for a tremendous degree of freedom. Tissues that are fused lack this quality and over time, mobility drops off. Restoring mobility and defusing tissues can be done and with the right interventions the body can restore the mobility needed. Unweighting activities like swimming, low intensity groundwork like rolling or breathwork in positions that unlock joints are all potentially effective strategies to improve movement capabilities.

Fusion is a powerful source of energy that contributes significantly to performance. Learning how to sufficiently fuse and then defuse can not only maximize your capabilities but also aid in moving more easily. The rules are simple, and they provide each of us with potential that we may not even know we have within.

Austin Ulrich, Physical Therapist