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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 3, 2019)
Wednesday, April 3, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Fit For Sisters Andrew Loscutoff Columnist What is adaptive muscle shortening? Adaptive muscle shorten- ing is an ominous sounding condition, but it9s arguable everybody reading this has had an instance of or is deal- ing with this muscle-tighten- ing condition. Tight muscles, strains, and pains all are outcomes when adaptive muscle short- ening occurs. This leads to undesirable posture, poor movement mechanics, and eventually more dysfunc- tion. It is a slippery slope and needs to be addressed with some simple yet thoughtful consideration. Adaptive muscle short- ening is the principle that a muscle will autonomously shorten to the position it9s held in most. This means those tight neck, chest, and shoulders are a result of forward <slumped= pos- ture. (Grandma knew best!) Tight hips and hamstrings? Sitting is likely the culprit. The drivers behind this are two sensory neurons within the muscles called the golgi tendon organ and the muscle spindles. These sense movement, the posi- tion of the muscle and allow for stretching, contracting, and tension to take place. They adapt to the position- ing they9re frequently in. These are also what relax when you stretch, giving the sensation of <muscle lengthening.= You might be drawing the conclusion that stretch- ing is the remedy. Yes, that9s partially correct; however, you also need active range- of-motion exercises. This is because contracting and relaxing a muscle results in a greater inhibitory response on these two neurons. Active range of motion also works the muscle and therefore is a great way to succeed in two endeavors: stretching and activating. Adaptive muscle short- ening in context of aging typically looks like this: You adopt a forward head and shoulder posture; you begin to lean forward in a hunchback stance. This forward lean puts momen- tum during a stride too far over your center of grav- ity. Absent youthful light- footedness, you shuffle your feet, slowing down your gait and greatly increasing risks of tripping. Straining lower back muscles become pain- ful, and very tight. Soon you9re not moving as much and become increasingly sedentary. Movement is key; be intuitive about how posture and daily habits help 4 or inhibit 4 proper posture. Use exercise as a therapy, and adopt good habits. Recognize the activity (such as cycling, or reading) which put you in a scrunched position for long periods, and work in the contrary. Adaptive muscle shortening might be something every- one is susceptible to, but suffering dire consequences isn9t inevitable. Teens push for lowering voting age By Sarah Zimmerman Associated Press SALEM (AP) 4 Hundreds of teens spent their spring break pleading with Oregon state lawmakers to consider lowering the voting age to 16, saying young people deserve a say on issues that will directly shape their future including gun control and global climate change. <The decisions our elec- tion officials make now will affect us for the rest of our lives, which is why we need a say,= Jeremy Clark, a 14-year- old from Portland, testified on Wednesday. <We are tired of waiting for the adults to take action.= Legislators are consider- ing changing the state consti- tution to lower the voting age to 16 in all elections, includ- ing for federal office. The move would ultimately need approval from voters in the 2020 ballot. Teens around the country have emerged as a powerful political force since a school shooting at Parkland, Florida, that left 17 students and teach- ers dead. Students have since staged multiple school walk- outs calling for more gun control, and have separately staged political demonstra- tions demanding action on climate change. The idea to lower the vot- ing age has picked up some national support, gaining the endorsement of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. A push to lower the voting age on the READY FOR TIRE CHANGEOVER? Call and make your appointment now for no-wait service! DAVIS TIRE 541-549-1026 Serving Sisters Since 1962 188 W. Sisters Park Dr. In Sisters Industrial Park across from SnoCap Mini Storage Don’t throw it away, we can fix it CCB# 87640 541-549-9280 | 207 W. Sisters Park Dr. | PonderosaForge.com PHOTO BY ALEX JORDAN We do repair work & fabrication in steel, aluminum, copper & other metals. “Your Local Welding Shop” 19 federal level fell short earlier this month. The move to lower the vot- ing age in Oregon also has the approval of Democratic Gov. Kate Brown and U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer. <Sixteen-year-olds are legally permitted to work, required to pay income tax on their earnings, permitted to drive motor vehicles on their own, and can be tried as adults in the criminal justice system,= Blumenauer said in written testimony. <It stands to reason that they should be able to shape their future by participating in the political process as well.= But opponents say that teens aren9t mature enough to understand the politi- cal process, and that they9re too young to own prop- erty or enlist in the military. Republicans add that the move is a Democratic bid to get more liberal voters. <People are not legally considered adults in this coun- try until they are 18 years old, and I believe they shouldn9t be able to vote until then either,= said Oregon Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger, Jr., of Grants Pass. <This is nothing more than an attempt to expand the voter rolls to sway elections.= The 26th amendment to the U.S. Constitution lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 in 1971. While states cannot raise the minimum voting age, they can lower it in state and local elections. Thirteen states have introduced measures to let teens vote, though none have passed. Two Maryland cities, Takoma Park and Hyattsville, let 16-year-olds vote in city council elections. Oregon is one of 14 states to let 16-year-olds pre-regis- ter to vote, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. At least 195,500 young people pre-registered in the state since the program began in 2007, with nearly half of them pre-registering between 2016 and 2018. At least 18,800 of those pre-reg- istered voters who turned 18 before the 2018 midterm elec- tions cast a ballot, according to a report from the Center for American Progress. Holistic Mental Health Solutions Medication Management Counseling • Functional Medicine Audry Van Houweling PMHNP-BC Now Accepting Insurance 541-595-8337 • www.shesoarspsych.com 102 E. Main Ave., Downtown Sisters