There are many forms of posture in the human body. The above picture is a static or non moving type of posture. The posture to the left symbolizes the body in movement when all of the parts are in proper working order. 

In last week's blog we talked about tension that is being applied evenly throughout the body. This is so all of the pulley wheels you see in the picture on the left will turn sequentially and allow for the joints to bend, flex and extend the way they were meant to. 

Picture for a moment that one of those wheels doesn't turn, what happens to the rest of the body in movement. That disruption will cause the displacement and disproportional  tension elsewhere in the body. You will also notice that the largest wheel is in the skull, as was demonstrated by percentages last week, and imagine what happens if we clench our jaw.

This brings me to today's topic, the head and neck and specifically the jaw. Many of us clench our jaw without even noticing it. There are more of us than not who have bumped our head, coughed or sneezed abruptly, maybe wore braces, and many other such traumas. Many overlook that incidental auto accident where there was no damage to the car and "I didn't have to go to the hospital!" Any and all of these alter the posture of the skull. 

This picture of the skull shows that there are tiny joints in between the different skull bones, or sutures as they are anatomically called. The skull is held together on the outside by a thin layer of Fascia and on the inside is the big wheel or where the Fascia begins. Of course everyone realizes that this is where the brain is housed and basically is suspended so there is an ability to absorb shock without damaging the brain.  

This is also where the most powerful muscle of the body is and it aids in moving the strongest joint in the body, the jaw. It also offers a pathway for the cranial nerves to travel between the brain and areas such as the heart, lungs, digestive system, eyes, and ears. It also houses the tongue which is an organ of the body. Your tongue is an organ, muscles are technically considered organs as well. The tongue is considered an organ because a group of tissues work together, as an organ NOT TISSUE, the reason this occurs is because the tongues tasks are too complicated to be carried out by just one type of tissue. Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_the_tongue_considered_an_organ#ixzz24IppccR4

As you can see the skull is an important part of the anatomy and because of its importance influences much of what we do. I have been fortunate to work with many Dentists and Orthodontists that have taught me about this structure and the importance of the teeth in our everyday posture. Just how the occlusion or bite of the teeth come together and slide off of one another is important to the rest of the body. A bite that is partially off will often be the cause of headaches, neck pain and even pelvic and low back issues. That jaw pain you are experiencing can be the result of or the cause of something else going on in your body.

There are techniques such as Cranio-Sacral Therapy which was developed by Dr. Sutherland, D.O. and made more mainstream by Dr. John Upledger, D.O. This technique helps to balance the structures within that aides the spinal fluid in its flow. This is the fluid that feeds your nervous system. It is a very gentle therapy. 

Many of the traditional therapies also address the skull and jaw for different maladies. In Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® we also address the skull in dealing with the internal tension on the skeleton. The skull and neck do command a larger percentage of tension to maintain proper Tensegrity throughout. The primary reason is that due to the weight of the skull, there are many attachments that allow it too move freely in flexion, extension, and rotation. All of these points need to be evaluated that they are truly pulling their own weight. Remember the tendons and muscles are the puppet strings that pull the puppet in the proper direction with the proper force.

Also, in our breathing pattern these suture lines allow the skull to expand and contract properly. Any aberration to them and it could disrupt the breathing pattern. Proper evaluation of movement is critical to the overall well being of the internal posture.

Next week we will talk about the torso and shoulders, the arms, forearms and hands and how they affect the overall internal posture to the body. But remember it is true that we need to have our head screwed on right. 

Till next week, remember there is always a Reason to HOPE!

Dennis

Breathing and posture, how are they related? As you can see in the picture on the left the spine needs to be in proper posture in order to function properly. 

How does this all tie in to what we have previously discussed in our blogs? Simply the body's posture determines how much oxygen we take in to satisfy the body's needs. 

The body has five diaphragms that need to work congruently in order function at 100%. Sometimes our day to day fatigue comes from not bringing in enough oxygen to satisfy what the body uses. If at times during the day you feel tired, could it be that you are not receiving enough oxygen. When we sit for long periods of time, does our breathing become shallower? Why would this be? What are these five diaphragms?

In Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® the NOD(C) or network of diaphragms is one of the first elements taught. The reason being is that this network needs to be operational for the body to fully respond not only to therapy but to movement itself. The first diaphragm we all think of is the mid abdominal and this is the largest one. A trivia fact on this muscle is that it is the only one in the body that truly inserts on itself. It attaches to the ribs, the upper lumbar vertebrae and the lungs. Without getting into great detail this muscle's attachment to the lumbar (low back) spine will affect the hip flexor and low back flexor muscles if not functioning properly, often the cause of that catch in the low back when we take a deep breath.


The other four diaphragms are all part of the NOD(C) phenomena mentioned previously. The Fascia system starts in the skull and ends in the feet. There are two muscles on the back of the head that start the NOD(C) process by initiating movement of this Fascia in the skull. Those also happen to be the two muscles that are directly tied into the mandible joints and often are the site of migraine headaches. As these two contract or shorten they pull directly on the Fascia, also known as the Dura Mater, and this begins the cycle of inhalation. As this process completes its cycle, the muscle elongate therefore taking tension off of the Fascia; it is this cycle which initiates the movement throughout the body.

As you are able to see from the picture on the left, any distortion to the head and neck will alter the ability of these two muscles to initiate proper breathing techniques. These are also the muscles that many of my clients remark, "Is it possible I can feel that in my feet?", the answer is yes-it is that interconnection of the Fascia that transmits that sensation. 


Any head trauma can begin the cycle of inhibited breathing! That is why it is important for the individual to disclose to the therapist any form of trauma. What constitutes head and neck trauma? This is a question that often goes unanswered by many of the clients but somehow comes up in subsequent sessions. The definition is broad but goes something like this: "any abrupt movement that causes the tension on the skull to change." What exactly does that mean? Do you have a tendency to sneeze or cough harshly? Have you ever bumped your head on a cupboard or in a fall? Have you ever been in a motor vehicle incident or did you ever fall off of your bike during your youth? As you can see there are many times during your lifetime that head trauma may occur. The body's breathing system is quite complex and will accommodate any and all incidents to continue to breath, because it is necessary for life and movement. 

Did you ever wonder why you have trouble doing deep breathing or meditation? Probably because your breathing apparatus is limited and we often overlook the inadequacy of how we breathe. One of the first items taught in Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® and Fundamental Movement Therapy(SM) is making sure the individual is able to properly breathe. In the Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® the practitioner observes movement of the rib cage and will treat that area first if proper breathing methods are dysfunctional. In Fundamental Movement Therapy(SM) the instructor talks and teaches proper breathing mechanics while instructor shows the student what imprinting is. 

To see if you are breathing correctly try this little exercise:

1. Sit in a comfortable chair where you back is relaxed and your feet are in full contact with the floor or stool.
2. First check your feet, do you feel pressure along the inside arch of your foot or does your foot have a tendency to want to roll out. One other item here, is it hard for you to keep both feet in contact with the floor?
3. Let your shoulders relax, if you feel a strain here or your have a hard time keeping your shoulders back with forcing your chest forward there is an indication of neck trauma.
4. As you take your first deep breath be aware of where you are moving.

• do you feel the bottoms of your feet being slightly raised up
• do you feel the pelvic floor lifting
• do you feel the bottom of your rib cage opening and the upper part raising
• do you feel your neck decompressing
• do you feel the base of your skull depressing
• if not you might need to call one of our therapist to have this balanced.  

Breathing is a critical component for many of the body's functions, what function we at Chagrin Valley Wellness Center are most focused on is your ability to move with as little discomfort if any at all. These blogs are meant to educate you so that your daily movement patterns are comfortable and you are able to enjoy life.

Practice you're breathing and as we continue the posture journey, remember there is - a Reason to HOPE!

Dennis