Hold’em or Fold’em
We are all made mostly of water, followed by protein in the form of collagen. Those are the primary ingredients. The latter, collagen, is the shape of a triple helix like that of a braided rope. One of the qualities of proteins is that they are capable of unfolding, meaning they change their shape from a 3-D helix to a more two-dimensional, flat structure. That shape change may be what allows for cells to do important things like send electrical signals. One interesting pattern is that although this happens way down inside our cells, there looks to be the same pattern present on the macroscale of our movement.
The three-dimensional structure of collagen promotes a more vertically oriented cell, you could imagine a person standing up straight like their mother always told them to. If proteins start to fold, they become flatter and shorter. The rotational quality of the triple helix diminishes, and broader refrigerator-type movements arise. This is useful in the right context, however returning to the tall helix is paramount.
This actually looks to be the case during our movements as well. Consider how a person looks when they stand up straight and move more effortlessly. The opposite would be someone who has lost the three-dimensional representation and has moved toward a flatter movement strategy. They lumber or may even waddle to get from place to place. In practical applications this could be a ballerina versus an NFL lineman. Both strategies have merit, both are useful in particular contexts, and the real value shows up with the ability to transition from one state to another.
The longer we can stay adaptable, the more we can fluctuate between tall and short, 3-D and flat the better off we tend to be. Adaptability appears to rely heavily on several pillars, things like adequate sleep, exercise, high quality food and social engagement. Each of these can be broken down into smaller parts that influence the whole, but they are broad strokes. In my realm, exercise, heavy bilateral movements tend to make people flatter and higher force producers. While single arm/leg movements under lighter loads aid in retaining more refined, 3-D movement patterns. Each has their place on the performance continuum.
Austin Ulrich, Physical Therapist
