Muscles and Meridians - TCM approach to musculoskeletal disfunction.

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Thursday, 05 March 2026

Written by Zbigniew Mucha, Co-Founder of A to Z Fitness

Looking at the human body from a holistic point of view makes perfect sense to me as a health practitioner with nearly 30 years of experience.

Having a number of different trainings and a degree in Sport Science, I always wanted to find the best way to be able to help my clients and patients achieve optimal health.
Is Traditional Chinese Medicine a missing link? Yes, I know some of you may think it’s another one of these alternative approaches based on invisible Qi flowing everywhere and nowhere. 

We in Western societies like to touch and validate everything to make sure it is good enough. I always use the analogy of LOVE (like Qi mentioned above).
We can’t measure or touch LOVE, but we know at the same time how powerful it is and how much our physiology changes when we are in LOVE.
Qi is an invisible energy flowing through the body and making us thrive. Qi is too small to be seen, but too powerful to be ignored.
Qi makes perfect sense to me, and more than 2000 years of existence make a valid reason to look at it closely from the musculoskeletal point of view.
Muscles and ligaments belong to the Earth element, and the major organ, or rather system associated with optimal muscle function is the Spleen. 

The Five element’s theory explains how each element support/control each other and the Qi is the connecting factor between all of them.
Spleen and Stomach belong to the Middle Jiao, and the Spleen in particular is responsible for the transportation and transformation of all the nutrients we consume.

If Middle Jiao is happy, Qi will flow upwards and outwards, but if there is any imbalance, the Qi will flow downwards, causing upset gut and gastrointestinal issues such as IBS, diarrhoea.

This will also affect muscles and other organs.
The EARTH is there to make the Metal. We need METAL to carry the WATER, which is there to nourish the WOOD. We need the WOOD to make the FIRE, which in turn, creates the ashes that nourish the soil – the Earth element. That’s how the five-element theory is used in TCM practise.
Let’s look at this from the Western point of view. We need all these elements on a daily basis to create a balanced and healthy body.
WATER is linked to the Kidney system.BREATHING is linked to the Lung and Diaphragm system. NUTRITION is linked to the Stomach and Digestive system. EMOTIONS / SLEEP are linked to the Heart, Liver, and Adrenals.
MOVEMENT is linked to the Muscles and Bones. I incorporate all of these elements, and the connections between them, into my practice and my approach to holistic health.

Good quality water is essential to our health. We tend to lose lots of water during exercise, which creates dehydration and can cause muscular discomfort in the form of cramps and tightness.
Breathing is very important to keep our body stress-free, especially the upper quarter and the neck. A reverse breathing pattern leads to trigger points in the scalenes and sternocleidomastoid muscles of the neck.

The upper trapezius also becomes very tight, causing headaches or upper back pain.
High-quality food makes our musculoskeletal system stronger and allows us to function pain-free.
A stress-free environment makes our digestion stronger due to the parasympathetic response, which makes our muscles well nourished, and our mind will be more creative.
Movement is something we don’t fully understand in the West. In my 30 years in health and fitness, I can see people overexercising, and gyms are open 24/7. No pain, no gain approach. 

We have never exercised this much, and we have the unhealthiest society ever. It doesn’t make any sense. I like the Daoist approach, “not too little, not too much”. Excess movement puts us at risk of injuries, mental fatigue and further imbalances.
All these factors play a very important role in keeping your body healthy, and regular visits to your massage clinic are a very good step in allowing your body to relax.

Please don’t hesitate to visit www.atozfitness.co.uk  and ask Zibi or Athena to help you to achieve your optimal health, fitness and happiness
Lao Tzu once said, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime”.

We are here to teach you how to make small steps to create holistic health for you and your family. 

Z.Mucha
C.H.E.K Practitioner
C.H.E.K Holistic Lifestyle Coach
C.H.E.K Golf Conditioning
Chopra Meditation Instructor
www.atozfitness.co.uk 

t: 07880 621200
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