Aging, stress, pollution, dehydration, consuming junk food and sugar are the leading reasons of decline in skin elasticity and loss of muscle and bone volume. Is it possible to stabilize this process and maintain the healthy status of the skin, muscles and bones?
There are only a few measures available for us.
These measures are: clean air, clean food, clean mind and, of course, exercises.
For example, investigation conducted by Division of Musculoskeletal Sciences, Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA “reveals that muscle atrophy precedes bone loss during unloading and may contribute to subsequent skeletal deficits. Countermeasures that preserve muscle may reduce bone loss induced by mechanical unloading or prolonged disuse. Trabecular bone loss with age, similar to that which occurs in mature astronauts, is superimposed on unloading.” (Interdependence of muscle atrophy and bone loss induced by mechanical unloading. Lloys SA at al. 2014).
Below you can see the illustration and video from lectures of London based Prof. John Mew and Dr. Mike Mew about orthotropic approach of face development. Orthotropic treatment is alternative to Orthodontics, showing the dramatic facial changes and health benefits. Tips and Exercises on Improving Incorrect Swallowing by Prof John Mew are published as well.
Exercises for face, head and neck muscles have been successfully used to strengthen facial muscles after jaw surgeries and in patients with swallowing problems. Sources: U.S. National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health. "Effects of neck exercises on swallowing function of patients with stroke." J Phys Ther Sci. 2015 Apr; 27(4): 1005–1008. Published online 2015 Apr 30.
In 2012 clinicians from The University of Manchester (UK) have developed speech exercise app so2speakapp for all the muscles of mouth and face after stroke, brain injury or surgery and certain neurological conditions.
Another example of using exercises for prevention and treatment of different conditions related to face, head and neck muscles is Myofunctional therapy, which is the "neuromuscular re-education or re-patterning of the oral and facial muscles." The therapy includes facial and tongue exercises and behaviour-modification techniques to promote proper tongue position and improved breathing, chewing and swallowing. Proper head and neck postures are also addressed. There are good studies to substantiate that it may resolve jaw problems and orthodontic relapse working in a multi-disciplinary team. (source https://youtu.be/zaQQdyaymZc
Method of exercising with FACEXER is a tangible resource to maintain health, youth, energy and mood in a great condition, utilizing exercises for face, head and neck muscle. FACEXER has been developed to keep a facial bone, muscle, skin/ breathing and digestive systems/brain at a good working stage.
Today we introduce exercise focusing on jaw line area.
The problem zone: fleshy or droopy lower part of the cheeks, saggy muscles of the lower jaw (jowls). We recommend practising this exercise in front of the mirror.
- Start from the resting position “1”– standing or sitting , with lips closed, tongue flat and resting on the roof of your mouth with the tip of the tongue behind the front teeth, but not touching teeth. Your upper and lower teeth are in a relaxed position and are not engaged.
- Press FACEXERs against your left or and right jowls area.(or both sides if you exercising with 2 FACEXERs) It is advisable to use some moisturiser on the area underneath the eyes to prevent wrinkle formation, or press the second FACEXER against area where crow’s feet might be formed and exercise one side of your face, then another side of the face.
3 . Push your jaw and lower teeth forward, roll your lower lip over your upper lip and upper teeth. Try to stretch up your lower jaw muscles as much as possible. Feel the warming (burning) sensation on the both sides of the jaw.
- Raise both corners of your mouth like when you smile, and using your cheeks muscle, make an exaggerated tight wink. Hold for account of 5
- keeping the wink and the smile, raise your chin up towards the ceiling. Hold for a count of 5. Make sure position of your mouth and eyes are not changed. Feel warming sensation in you lower jaw muscles.
- Keeping your muscles tension on, slowly turn your head to the right. Hold for a count of 5.
- Keeping your muscles tension on, slowly turn your head to the left. Hold for a count of 5.
- Holding FACEXER at the same position, focus on keeping continuous tension on the lower jaw muscles. Slowly and steady turn your head towards the ceiling again. Hold for a count of 5.
9. Slowly and gradually return to positions 3-2-1.
How many repetitions of this exercise should you perform? When initially beginning to perform this particular exercise, perform one - two repetitions, and gradually increase number of repetition over a continued period of time until 5-10 repetitions are completed.
Remember: all exercises will build strength by steadily resisting force. Doing the exercises properly is important. Take your time and focus on each motion as well as the muscles you are using.
How do you know if the exercising is working for you? You will feel the warming sensation in the region you are working out. It means blood flow is increased to the region of muscular work. When a muscle contracts, energy is used. The byproduct of this process is lactic acid which could build up with intense exercising and cause a burning sensation. Reduce the amount of repetitions if the pleasant warming sensation turns to “feeling a burn”.
Warning: Before beginning any exercise program, you should always consult with your doctor or physician, particularly if you have or suspect any sort of medical condition that might be worsened by exercise. Although exercise is beneficial to most people's skin, it can also exacerbate certain skin conditions. If in doubt, consult your doctor or physician.