Mechanotransduction is something we'll all start hearing more about very soon, if you haven't already. It’s the process by which mechanical stimuli is translated into biological signals that influence cellular function. What this means is that our physical inputs affect cellular activity, immune function, mental health, metabolic function, and state of our nervous system. A basic example of mechanotransduction is when a mechanical force is repeatedly applied to tendons, it will stimulate them to grow & strengthen. Nothing ground breaking here. You see this in rock climbers whose tendons thicken due to the repeated tension placed on them. But it goes even deeper than this. Mechanical stimuli can affect tissue regeneration in your organs as well as how your bodily systems function. For example, the signaling, metabolism, motility/migration, and gene expression of T cells is influenced by mechanical inputs to the extracellular matrix. Meaning the internal and external mechanical loads put on our bodies will modulate our immune function and more. Our bodies are comprised of a viscoelastic tensegrity network. This network extends from the musculoskeletal level of analysis down to the level of the extracellular matrix. How you are able to move (or not move) will send signals to your cells impacting and influencing the quality of your phenotypical expression. Movement within your tissues is key because it induces intracellular signaling that directs immune function, gene expression, and chemical response. If your tissues are inflamed, calcified, and carry too much tension & stiffness it will signal or limit the motility of immune response cells (T-Cells), motor neurons, oxygen carrying red blood cells, and chemical/hormonal responses. Looking back up the chain, at the level of movement we can consciously control. There is a manner of movement that we can embody that will best signal the appropriate and most biologically efficient responses all the way down at the level of the extracellular matrix. The ideal is moving our bodies in a way where forces/tensions are aligned along the fascial lines to allow the greatest simultaneous linkage of mechanical force in the body. When our body is "linked-up" with coherent, aligned fascial tensegrity network the signal being communicated from the mechanical stimuli will be most efficiently translated down to the level of your cells at the genetic level. Why is this significant? It is significant because it tells us that we need aligned movement throughout the body to function at our highest capacity and send the right signals at the cellular level. One, its not enough just to move around randomly, we need proper structure of movement in accordance with the body's natural tensegrity network so that the communication pathways are strong. Two, we cannot afford to act as is we are plants: passively absorbing food, supplements, drugs, the earth, and the sun to comprehensively signal all of the proper, healthy functions of the human body. We need aligned movement as major part of the equation.