Body Mechanics
Its Effect on Body Function and its Correction with the
Spinal Touch Treatment.
by
Dr.W.LaMar Rosquist
This article appeared in the May/June 1976 issue of the
Digest of Chiropractic Economics.
In the last issue of Chiropractic Economics I discussed the effects of body
mechanics on Multiple Sclerosis and how the Spinal Touch Treatment influences
MS symptoms. The subject of body mechanics is basic to chiropractic and the
fact that a treatment which effectively corrects basic body mechanics can
influence MS symptoms should not surprise a chiropractor.
There is Nothing New
Let's first establish a well-known truth: "There is nothing new under the
sun." Many of the effective treatments today were pioneered by doctors in
the past. Sometimes due to unfavourable professional publicity in the beginnings
of chiropractic they were lost, or at least laid aside, to be rediscovered
and refined under more favourable conditions.
With the inquiring and seeking minds of such chiropractic greats as Dr. George
Goodheart, who has dedicated himself to refining the initial discoveries
of Dr. Terence Bennett, D.C., and his work with neurovascular receptors and
with Dr. Chapman's discoveries on neuro-lymphatic receptors in their compatible
order, chiropractic is moving forward at a dramatic pace. Dr. Goodheart has
made a tremendous breakthrough in the modern science of Chiropractic Kinesiology.
Though my Spinal Touch Treatment technique may sound like something entirely
new, it really isn't. Dr. John Hurley discovered the light touch method of
spinal correction in the late 1920's, which he called Bio-Mechanics. From
his early writings and notes Dr. Francis Goes practiced a form of light touch
for many years with great success. Combining the experiences of these two
great pioneering doctors, we have refined the method to its present form.
The reason this treatment is so effective on even the most devastating
neuromuscular disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis is because of its powerful
effect on body mechanics.
The Plumb Line
The number of chiropractors who stand a patient up to a plumb line and check
for postural distortion are few. Use of a plumb line seems to me to be so
elementary to a chiropractor's basic examination. It seems hypocritical that
we, in a profession which deals with the spine and the body's posture, should
copy so much of the medical approach to the physical examination and fail
to note this simple postural measurement.
Usually, we sit the patient on the examining table and listen to the heart
and lungs, take the pulse, temperature, blood pressure, check the eyes, ears,
nose and throat, check reflexes, palpation, auscultation, and check orthopedic
and neurological responses. Sometimes we do blood and urine examinations,
heart graphs, etc. All this is not bad. Many conditions can be diagnosed
and treatment outlined with just such an examination. A chiropractor, however,
should not ignore the importance of body mechanics.
Body mechanics are fundamental to a patient's health problems. By standing
a patient at the plumb line and measuring his carriage and posture from behind
and from the side we discover clues to sags, twists, scoliosis, kyphosis,
lordosis, and severe strains and distortions that cannot be accurately determined
in any other manner.
Gravity - A Law of Health
When we analyze the force of gravity and its influence on our bodies we begin
to realize that it becomes as basic a concept of health as any other. Gravity's
continual pull has a more devastating effect on our health than any other
single force. All our internal organs, muscles, fascia, skin and skeletal
structures are constantly being pulled toward the earth's surface. We see
many around us with sagging tissue on the arms, legs, etc. Many people are
bent forward with hyper-flexion of the neck, sagged rib cage, and pelvic
rotation; all continually influenced by the downward gravitational pull.
Just as the earth has a centre of gravity and everything on its surface is
being pulled toward that centre so does every object on the earth have its
own centre of gravity. The centre of gravity of any object is that point
where all gravitational forces are equal from every side. Hence, any object
can be balanced on a bar when its centre of gravity is placed exactly over
the bar.
The human body has a point wherein it is possible to balance from front to
back and from side to side. That point is at the junction of the fifth lumbar
in its articulation with the base of the sacrum on the anterior, superior
surface (see figure 1). It is at this point that the body would balance from
front to back and side to side. Figure skaters and dancers always balance
their partners when lifting by placing their hands in the small of their
backs at this point. For reference purposes we call this point the centre
of gravity of the body.
Figure 1 - The centre of gravity. Front view of the sacrum. Note
relationship at the sacrum and the fifth lumbar articulation.
All outside influences acting upon the body are ultimately transmitted to
its centre of gravity. If a blow is struck to the head and exceeds the elastic
limits of that part of the body, the force of the blow is immediately transmitted
to the centre of gravity. Such trauma almost always causes a permanent change
at the lumbo-sacral articulation. Just as a blow to the body above the centre
of gravity is transmitted to this point a blow from below will also be
transmitted upwards to the same point. Remember, the body has a certain amount
of elasticity and any trauma and/or stress within this elastic limit has
no lasting adverse affects. However, when trauma and stress (either physical
or mental) is allowed to accumulate beyond this normal limit strained muscles
transmit this trauma to the centre of gravity.
Usually when a man lifts a load too heavy for him, he feels pain in his lower
back (the centre of gravity) before he feels ill effects in his arms. Most
industrial accidents refer to this point and because this is where most problems
are concentrated this becomes the first area to attempt correction. Even
in cases where patients complain of arm, neck and shoulder pains, I have
found that the symptoms disappear more readily if treatment is concentrated
first on the symptom and then on correction of sacral distortion or displacement.
The Loose Link Concept at the Centre of Gravity
When we understand the relationship of the sacrum to body distortion we begin
to realize its importance in body mechanics. The sacrum is articulated on
three borders leaving only two or three sacral segments free to contract
for correction. The sacrum is also firmly fixed by muscles, ligaments, and
fascia so that it cannot move freely. In cases of distortion, the sacrum
is being pulled by a strained muscle, or group of muscles. Under normal
conditions the sacrum is nearly impossible to reach and effectively adjust.
With added muscle tension it becomes even more difficult.
There have been no truly accurate rules established for the norm of the sacrum.
Studies by dedicated men such as Dr. Arthur V. Nielsen show that the centre
of gravity of the sacral mass lies 1/4 inch anterior to its concave face
and midway between the anterior foramina near the base and, viewed posteriorly,
is opposite the middle of the first sacral spine. You will note on figure
2 that the centre of gravity of the upper torso is about one inch forward
of the centre of gravity of the sacrum. With these two slightly displaced
centres of gravity we are able to see how a blow or overload transmitted
to the centre of gravity of the body will cause the sacrum to be influenced.
Figure 2 - The loose link. Note that the fifth lumbar is connected
about 1 inch forward of the area where the hips connect (see
circles).
Such a blow is transmitted down on the base of the sacrum and thus displacing
the balance of the centre of gravity of the sacrum. This displacement causes
the Innate to make all manner of compensatory changes in skeletal as well
as muscular systems of the body, to keep it upright. Hence, we now have a
distortion to some degree, in the body. Figure 3 illustrates the upper mass
(torso, head, arms, etc.) sitting over the lower mass (hips, and legs). The
centre of these two masses is the sacrum. Because the upper mass is pushing
down one inch forward of the lower mass, which is opposing the downward pull
of gravity, we now see a "loose link."
Figure 3
These two masses opposing each other and not being centred one directly over
the other, constitute a weakness in the structure. Now it becomes readily
apparent why the sacrum can become either posteriorly or anteriorly subluxated
merely by blows, trauma, injury and strains received from above or below
this weak "loose link."
Importance of the Plumb Line Emphasised
Until a patient is standing at the plumb line it is impossible to accurately
determine what has happened to the weak loose link in the lumbo- sacral area
of the spine. Looking from the posterior, we can see how the sacrum is off
from side to side of the plumb line. Nobody is distorted unless the centre
of gravity is displaced. This displacement is determined by the elastic limits
of the structure, or the amount of force required to move this point permanently.
A body loses its ability to function in direct relation to the distortion
present.
This being the case, the law of gravity now becomes the most important law
of nature, because now we can check abnormalities and influence micromic
movement of the sacrum from side to side and anterior to posterior. This
micromic movement is accomplished through muscle relaxation and redirection
of the body's inner forces to bring the loose link into line once again.
In doing this, we alleviate strains, distortions and structural and organ
weaknesses. This correction is done painlessly and with exact accuracy because
we have first determined amounts of distortion at the plumb line.
Early research by Drs. Goldthwait, Brown, Swaim and Kuhns on body mechanics
gives us excellent insight into the effects body mechanics has on the organs.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are copied from their book, Essentials of Body Mechanics
in Health and Disease, copyright 1945 by J. B. Lippincott Company.
Figure 4 - (A) Lateral view of the abdominal cavity with good body
mechanics. Note that the diaphragm is highest at the anterior attachment,
thereby making the greatest possible room for the viscera. (B) With faulty
body mechanics we now see the sacrum tilted anteriorly at its base, allowing
the lordotic curve to increase. Note that the lordosis has alowwed the rib
cage to fall. Now the diaphragm is lower on the anterior portion, thereby
rotating the liver downwardand forward. The lower abdominal muscles are relaxed
and protrubant. The viscera are now allowed to drop into the pelvic
region.
Figure 5 - Diagramatic lateral view of the pelvis and lower abdomen.
(A) Good body mechanics. Note that the forward tilt of the pelvis (diagonal
conjugate) combined with the flat lower abdominal wall gives good support
to the hollow viscera. (B) Faulty body mechanics allowing an increased forward
tilt of the pelvis (sacrum tipped anteriorly at the base) combined with the
relaxed and protruberant abdominal wall gives no upward support to the
intestines, permitting the organs to fall into the pelvic cavity.
Figure 6 - (A) Posture, spinal curves and intervertebral disks normal.
(B) Distortion due to anterior tilt of base of sacrum. Note accentuation
of spinal curves and the pendulous abdomen.
The Spinal Touch Treatment allows the doctor to correct body distortion by
redirecting the body's inner energies and allowing the muscles themselves
to gradually pull the skeletal structure to its normal position. With its
tremendous relaxative influence on the body, this treatment also changes
the body energies in and around the organs, increasing circulation and nerve
function to impeded areas. Thus, it becomes readily apparent why so simple
a treatment has such far-reaching effects on neuromuscular disorders of the
human body.
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