tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791234688533573227.post4723448083121877770..comments2023-06-29T05:37:01.513-07:00Comments on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome -> Tammy's Story: Learning to Manage Winter Paintandrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15490286059965586900noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1791234688533573227.post-41251585727156298072013-04-02T16:13:52.275-07:002013-04-02T16:13:52.275-07:00There are very good reasons for keeping chronicall...There are very good reasons for keeping chronically challenged soft tissues warm.<br /><br />Connective tissue - the membranes that wrap every muscle cell, every bundle of muscle cells, every muscle, and then wrap your viscera, and you brain, line your skin... This tissue provides structure and allows pliability. It's made of three things: collagen (for structure), elastin (for extensibility) and ground substance. <br /><br />Ground substance is the stuff that exists between the cells - a semi-fluid matrix that transitions easily from a liquid to a gel to a thick, pasty substance that acts more like glue. And the things that influence its state are temperature, hydration and movement.<br /><br />The colder you are, the less you move, and the less you drink, the less fluid your ground substance becomes. Rather than aiding in ease of movement, it works against you, holding tissues together and providing constant resistance to motion. <br /><br />Keeping warm and hydrated, and staying in motion, allows the gel to become more liquid, and this allows your tissues to glide more easily past one another, and to more fully relax and extend. So your movement becomes easier, and you expend less energy in accomplishing simple daily activities.<br /><br />Cold is good for reducing inflammation, but in the absence of heat and swelling and redness, heat is often the sensible choice.Nancy DeMarcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00541156981472896868noreply@blogger.com