The ELDOA Method

You may have heard of this unique technique recently as it has been endorsed as the premier mobility training method by the Titleist Performance Institute. For those of you who haven’t heard, let’s get you up to speed.

The ELDOA method is rising in its popularity among professional athletes and their healthcare providers because of its efficiency, efficacy, and sustainability. Although rotational-type sports such as baseball and golf have recognized the powerful effects ELDOA has in increasing the longevity of each athlete’s respective sport, the benefits extend beyond athletes and can be utilized by anyone at any age.
 

What is ELDOA:

ELDOA (which stands for longitudinal osteoarticular de-coaptation stretches) (in Français) trains the quality of the fascia in the human body. It is an active postural exercise designed to increase the space within any given joint in the body by fixing the inferior segment and mobilizing the superior segment.
 

How ELDOA works:

The intent and accuracy of this technique on the fascial lines of the human body are what make the ELDOA method so effective.

A quick word on fascia: fascia is a three-dimensional matrix of tissue that envelops all muscles, bones, and organs. Effectively, fascia provides the structural framework on a micro-level for the human body between your skin and your bones.

Remodeling fascia with stretching and mobilization is what allows joints to move with greater freedom. Need proof? What you need to know, is that flexibility is essentially dependent on the quality of your fascia.
 

Why you need ELDOA:

->Local effects include spinal decompression at the facet joints and neural foramina (where nerve roots exit the spinal cord), simultaneous isometric and eccentric conditioning of intrinsic spinal muscles, increased circulation of fluid and venous blood flow into the intervertebral joints, and increased proprioception (attention to where your body is in space) of your joints.

->Global effects include better muscle tone, improved posture, awareness of poor movement patterns involved in joint pain, and an overall sense of well-being.
 

A note on intent:

You may see some of these pictures and be tempted to imitate the positions. Be cautioned- instruction and coaching are of utmost importance when using the ELDOA method. Every part of the body from the little toe to the crown of the head is specifically positioned with intent and effort. The most basic position requires at least 12 instructional cues from a qualified practitioner. Maximal effort and concentration of coordinated movements are required by the individual to decompress the target joint, and that is the goal of the ELDOA.