http://elearu.recordtrades.com/ Restores Joint Mobility, Motor Control, Balance, Coordination and Flexibility en http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/10/31/the-importance-of-correct-posture.html It’s a rare occasion that we stand with our weight borne equally by our legs. Far more often we stand with about 80% of our weight on one leg using the other to retain us from falling by controlling the forward sway that we experience. Why do we do this? It’s usually a compensation on behalf of back pain caused by a stiff, inflexible spine. See which side you tend to put an estimated all of your weight on. Switch to the other side as well as see how uncomfortable this feels. For our example we shall designate the Left side to be the weight bearing side. The left leg locks out at the knee putting it into full extension. At the same time the pelvis tilts laterally to the right as well as downwards too - creating the posterior, inferior pelvis well known to Chiropractors as well as older Osteopaths. When we have a small amount of pelvis tilt it is controlled by the abductors, gluteus medius as well as minimus. But when the pelvis tilts further the iliotibial tract engages as well as takes on more as well as more of the load permitted the abductors to do less as well as less until they become silent. This kind of bad posture is known as pelvic slouch which is often associated with a herniated disc, sciatica as well as lower back pain. Adaptive postural adjustment strategies usually drop to the ankle as the center of our bodies gravity passes in front of the ankle. When we drop forward this dorsiflexion of the foot is supposed to be offset by plantar flexors. The soleus works an estimated all of this time while the gastroc’s are more intermitent in forward sway. We carry very little of the bodies load in the middle of our foot. The heel carries from 1 to 3x’s the load of the forefoot. One of the reasons I tend to adjust the metatarsals is that the twos carry up to 25% of forefoot load during forward sway. Thus it’s important that they are communicating with the brain proprioceptively. It seems, from observation, that nearly every one of us stands with our knees locked into full extension. When we do this the activity in the quadriceps muscle is quit unnecessary, as well as EMG shows it to be inactive. The next landmark the center of gravity passes through is the anterior edge of the lower surface of T10 or 11 subject to who you read. The tendency of our trunk to tip backwards is opposed by the iliofemoral ligament. Bilaterally the psoas as well as TFL act combined as hip flexors, which the gluteus medius retains an extensor function. On leaning forward to touch one’s toes the erector spinae become more active in controlling flexion. Upon swaying forward we activate the plantar flexors, followed by the hamstrings as well as paraspinal muscles. In backwards saw the sequence is tibialis anterior, quadriceps as well as abdominal muscles. Both sequences produce a compensatory torque at the ankle joint. The muscle activation sequence changes if you stand something narrow such as a bar. You utilize different strategy as well as activate trunk as well as thigh muscle antognists. Here when you sway forward you first activate the abdominal muscles as well as then the quadriceps. Each movement of the centre of gravity requires that a postural adjustment must be made. This adjustment is usually made prior to the movement itself. It’s anticipatory postural adjustment. When we’re standing at a bookstore as well as reach to take a book from the shelf postural muscle such as the external oblique as well as paraspinal muscles activate before the deltoids. This doesn’t occur when sitting as well as reaching. Much of the reflexive postural control mechanisms are housed, or occur, within the head as well as neck region primarily        http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/10/31/the-importance-of-correct-posture.html Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:33:31 -0400 elearu http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/10/propriocussion-a-sensorymotor-integration-therapy.html By Dr. Ted Edwards, DC – Originator of “Cerebrospinal Kinesiology” “Cerebrospinal Kinesiology” (CSK) includes a proprioceptive rehabilitation system that creates a new functional state in the patient. It does this by acting upon three distinct levels of motor control in the central nervous system (CNS): 1. Spinal reflexes influencing unconscious movement patterns. 2. Motor cortex activity on behalf of conscious cognitive awareness of body position as well as motion. 3. Brain stem activity between the basal ganglia as well as cerebellum to maintain posture as well as balance. Because proprioception at the motor cortex level is necessary on behalf of proper muscle as well as joint function in activities of daily living as well as occupational tasks, loss of proprioception greatly impedes coordination as well as predisposes one to injury as well as re-injury (Lephart 1992, Gurney 2000). The proprioceptive input to the brain stem emanates from the joint as well as muscle proprioceptors, our ears, as well as our eyes. The cerebellum interprets proprioceptive information as well as formulates a plan on what the next muscle action should be to accomplish the desired task (e.g. activities of daily living). The cerebellum then sends this plan to the motor cortex of the brain, which in turn sends the appropriate commands through the nervous system to the involved muscles. This all occurs in a fraction of a millisecond, as well as the whole time the cerebellum is receiving more proprioceptive feedback as well as continually adjusting its motor plan to fine tune the movements being taken. “Proprioceptors tell us not only where our body parts are in relation to each other as well as the outside world but also how fast as well as where they may be moving” (Simpson). Proprioception is the ability of the nervous system to instantly determine the relative positions in space of each limb as well as other body components providing feedback the brain uses to manufacture appropriate neuromuscular adjustments. Proprioceptive damage from trauma or injury alters movement patterns due to partial deafferentation as well as is accompanied by secondary changes in the central nervous system that negatively impact the neuromuscular system. Neuromuscular Control as well as Proprioceptive Acuity A patient who presents with virtually any injury has both proprioceptive deficits as well as mechanical instability, what Paul Chek refers to as sensory-motor amnesia, a concept he borrowed from Thomas Hanna (1988). These are assessed as alterations in neuromuscular control typically exhibited as deficits in range of motion, increases in muscle splinting, loss of muscle strength as well as joint position sense as well as increased nociceptive output. When articular structures loose their functional stability they tend to exhibit an increase in laxity. This makes them more prone to additional ligamentous instability from the micro-trauma of repetitive injury (Lephart 1992). Schulte’s study (2001) suggests that proprioceptive acuity can be enhanced with oscillatory devices. Enhancing proprioceptive acuity assists the patient to regain joint position sense, initiates reflex muscular stabilization, as well as corrects faulty motor programming. Reiter & Cato (1970) indicated that the development of proprioception might be the an estimated all important factor on behalf of postural realignment. The reason on behalf of this is that proprioceptive information shapes spinal reflex responses as well as is at the root of postural maintenance. In Cerebrospinal Kinesiology (CSK) we have formed “an effective proprioceptive [rehabilitation] protocol emphasizing conditioning principles of strength as well as endurance” using the oscillating percussive device to deliver “proprioceptive enhancement by improving neuromuscular control as well as motor learning . . . as well as prevent injury by maintaining proper joint congruency (Gordon & Ghez, 1991).” Applying CSK percussive therapy or what I’ve dubbed Propriocussion at the spinal level facilitates dynamic joint stabilization as well as mediates movement patterns on behalf of improved neuromuscular control. The ultimate goal of CSK is to provide practitioners with a comprehensive rehabilitation program that is designed to return their patients to preinjury levels of activity by removing the mechanical instability as well as proprioceptive deficits that are commonly associated with injury to passive as well as dynamic structures. Clinically restoring proprioceptive mediated neuromuscular control at the end of joint injury or trauma is assessed as normalization of muscle tone, improvements in muscle strength, increased range of passive as well as active movements, functional joint stability, ‘normal’ coordination as well as balance, greater flexibility in the joints, more endurance as well as improved posture. Regaining cognitive neuromuscular control at the end of an injury is vital if one is to perform the movements required to execute safe, pain-free activities of daily living. Functional Blockages & Segmental Control The combination of propriocussion to muscles, ligaments as well as tendons in conjunction with specific Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation to functional blockages of spinal segments, restores joint mobility, normalizes muscle tone as well as opens the gate on behalf of the flow of correct proprioceptive information to the central nervous system. This results in restoration of normal recruitment patterns as well as improved mobility in the joints of the spine (Kozijavkin 2004). Functional blockages of the spine in cases of trauma or injury disturb the flow of proprioceptive information. “Most proprioceptive information travels to higher CNS levels through either the dorsal lateral tracts or the spinocerebellar tracts” (Riemann 2002). Functional blockages are not limited to a single joint of the spine, but rather they occur in several adjacent vertebrae resulting in polysegmental spinal blockages. “These blockages influence all of the organs of the human body which are innervated by the corresponding segments of the spinal cord” (Kozijavkin 2005). Functional blockages in articular structures cause the surrounding muscles, ligaments as well as tendons to spasm as well as become painful leading to reduced physical activity due to pain related ‘fear-avoidance’ behavior. Anticipation of pain evokes a protective modified motor control strategy that stiffens the spine by increasing the amount of coactivation leading to slow as well as jerky movements with decreased range of motion (Moseley 2004, Sjolander 2004). Paul Hodges (1996) has shown that an emotional state of fear causes “motor control deficits of the trunk muscles, in particular the transverse abdominus,” one of the inner core muscles (Chek, Lee). Muscle dysfunction arising from increased joint trauma as well as ligamentous injury can result in mechanically inefficient intersegmental motion with reflexive neural activation producing muscle spasms or muscle guarding. Patients with varying degrees of spasms, pain as well as onset of tissue stasis have muscles that are over-dominant as well as have lost normal mobility. Subsequently muscle atrophy as well as a predisposition to muscle inflammation occurs, which is exhibited by loss of muscle strength as well as shortening of the proximal as well as distal musculature. For example, patients with Whiplash Associative Disorder (WAD) have reduced proprioceptive function of muscle spindles in the neck as well as shoulder, which is likely responsible on behalf of the negative effect on precision as well as the upper extremity muscle weakness typically found in these patients (Sandlund, 2004). These patients require a procedural rehabilitative technique that enhances proprioception restoring pain-free joints, decreasing range of motion deficits as well as preventing progressive muscle atrophy by restoring joint mobility as well as relieving associated spasms as well as pain. Clinical findings indicate that Propriocussion following Cerebrospinal Kinesiology (CSK) protocol is an effective technique on behalf of reestablishing proprioception as well as thus neuromuscular control in the treatment of pain as well as neuromuscular disorders, including dysfunctional joints as well as subluxated spinal segments. It’s been shown that the application of propriocussion changes aberrant spinal loading patterns correcting the functional distortions associated with segmental dysfunction. By imparting percussive impulses lost mobility in spinal segments is restored. A rapid reduction in pain as well as improvement in function is often seen with its utilize as subjective function has been correlated with proprioceptive ability (Roberts 2004). The CSK rehabilitation program follows the advice of Lephart (1997) that “simple tasks such as balance training as well as joint repositioning should begin early in the rehabilitation program as well as become increasingly more difficult as the patient progresses.” Kozijavkin (2004) reiterates, “Rehabilitation can be enhanced significantly when proprioception is addressed as well as instituted early in the treatment program. This theme was also echoed throughout the Fourth International Congress on Low Back as well as Pelvic Pain (2001). Following the kinetic chain approach “correction of the spine is carried out consecutively in lumbar, thoracic as well as cervical regions.” The next focus of treatment is directed at the proximal structures. These consist of the large joints of the shoulder complex as well as pelvic girdle. “Creation of the higher as well as more distal fine motor functions of the hand, development of balance, as well as improvements in cognitive function is possible only at the end of the development of the previous, more proximal functions.”…“Gradually activation of the medium sized joints are added, as well as ultimately the small distal structures are treated” (Kozijavkin 2004). It has been observed that the number of muscle spindles is higher in proximal joints as well as decreases in the more distal joints. Muscles as well as joints that have a higher density of muscle spindles are more susceptible to aberrant changes in proprioceptive acuity. For instance, the deep muscles of the cervical spine have a very high density of spindles presenting a rational on behalf of treating from the core outward to proximal as well as than distal joints as suggested by Kozijavkin as well as others Mechanoreceptors – Muscle spindles Lephart (1997) states: “The concept of proprioception is based on the fact that neural feedback to the central nervous system (CNS) is mediated by cutaneous, muscle (e.g. muscle spindles), as well as joint mechanoreceptors.” Riemann (2002) indicates that the CNS determines proprioceptive input from populations of receptors, what he refers to as ensemble coding. Information from proprioceptive mechanoreceptors is essential, not only on behalf of the performance of all movements, but also on behalf of motor training as well as learning new movements. Evidence suggests that joint as well as muscle receptors are probably complimentary components of an intricate afferent system in which each receptor modifies the function of the other. However, muscle spindles are considered to be the an estimated all important mechanoreceptors on behalf of proprioception because of the fact that of the major role they play in the control of muscular movement by adjusting activity levels in the lower motor neurons (Lephart 1997). Fatigue, inflammation as well as an estimated all especially trauma causing injuries to receptor bearing structures, such as ligaments, tendons as well as muscles, give rise to pain that directly impacts muscle spindle activity. This impairs proprioceptive information, which alters motor control of the affected muscles as well as contralateral muscles as well (Sandlund 2004). By stimulating joint as well as muscle receptors percussive therapy encourages maximum afferent discharge to the respective CNS level. Nathan as well as Keller (1994), state “There is increasing evidence that the frequency, as well as velocity of applied force may also play a key role in the therapeutic benefit…since the mechanical response of biologic structures is known to depend on the rate of load application.” In Cerebrospinal Kinesiology (CSK) treatments the Propriocussor is used as a delivery device that produces a set frequency as well as velocity with a variable applied force that enables the operator to alter the rate of applied load. The Propriocussor utilizes a cam driven motor to produce a short lever, high velocity percussive force. The constant stimulation provided by the Propriocussor is very effective at reducing muscle spasms as well as at inducing motion into spinal segments as well as other articular complexes of the body influencing the muscle spindles to play their role in controlling muscular movements patterns. A continuous percussive stimulus produces mechanical deformation of joint as well as muscle proprioceptive afferents that amplifies the sensory signal. This is carried as proprioceptive information to the brain stem (basal ganglia as well as cerebellum) influencing posture as well as balance control as well as to the peripheral as well as central nervous system (CNS) on behalf of integration via spinal reflex pathways as well as cortical pathways. This in turn becomes efficient sensorimotor control that modulates muscle function as sensory information underlies the planning of all motor output (Lephart, Borsa). Lephart (1997) notes that ligaments provide neurological feedback that directly mediates reflex muscular stabilization about the joint. Solomonow (1998) notes that while ligaments act as the major restraints on behalf of extremity joints it is now clear that spinal as well as abdominal muscles [especially the core muscles] are responsible on behalf of spinal stability. Research indicates that all spinal ligaments are equipped with proprioceptive mechanoreceptors of various types including fast adapting Pacinian as well as the slow adapting Golgi as well as Ruffini organs. Nociceptive nerve endings are also known to exist in the ligaments. These proprioceptive mechanoreceptors monitor strains, stresses as well as angles of different motion, reflexively initiating spinal as well as abdominal muscular activity that maintains the stability of the spine. The continuous stimulus provided by Propriocussion inhibits Pacinian corpuscles within milliseconds. While the Ruffini endings, Ruffini corpuscles, as well as Golgi tendon-like organs continue to discharge sending afferent impulses to the CNS via the cortical pathway. Stimulation of Golgi tendon receptors results in a reflex lengthening of muscles (Lephart 1997). While percussive deformation (propriocussion) of the supraspinous ligament, as well as feasable other spinal ligaments, recruits multifidus muscle force to stiffen one to three vertebral motion segments as well as improve functional joint stability (Solomonow 1998, Sjolander 2002). This occurs because of the fact that propriocussion activates the reflexive response mechanism that the body uses to increase muscle stiffness and, therefore, enhance joint stiffness on behalf of augmented joint stability at the end of an imposed joint trauma. As a result of propriocussive activation stiffer muscles transmit loads to muscle spindles more easily (Riemann 2002). The head/neck relationship (“primary control”) is a psychophysical process that manifests itself as muscular activity but is controlled by thought processes of wish or intention (Carrington as well as Carey 1992). Assessment shows a patient with “slow movements, reduced range of motion (ROM), poor balance, poor movement precision as well as deranged coordination” (Sjolander 2004). Sensory input from the neck mechanoreceptors, which are more numerous than in other muscles, as well as from the balance organs (semi-circular canals) work in tandem to provide information essential on behalf of the maintenance of human upright posture. Control of posture as well as movement is primarily affected by the state of neck muscles with their strong input to the brain. Reduced acuity of the proprioceptive information from the cervical region increases the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders, increases asymmetrical muscular co-activation as well as induces non-optimal postures. O’Sullivan (2001) adds, “individuals who habitually adopt passive postures on behalf of long periods, may de-activate as well as potentially de-condition the stabilizing muscles.” Propriocussion of the “stabilizing muscles with special emphasis on maintaining optimal postural alignment results in reduced pain as well as disability as well as enhanced motor control of these muscles” (O’Sullivan 2001). CSK PROCEDURE: Have the patient repeat left as well as right cervical rotation several times. “Patients with neck pain show more irregular movement patterns during cervical rotation exhibiting reduced smoothness of motion.” When we see altered motor performance exhibited by a patient this reflects deranged sensorimotor function (Sjolander 2004). Applications of Propriocussion alters electrical nerve impulses nearly immediately as well as have been found to be helpful to patients suffering from severely altered motor performance exhibited as chronic neck pain, especially those with instability on behalf of whom manual adjusting is clinically contraindicated. Postural sway can be significantly increased during “standing as well as walking in patients with neck pain” (Michaselson 2003). “Damage to joint proprioceptors at the end of injury to a ligamentous complex diminishes afferent feedback from the injured joint, thereby resulting in increased postural sway (Lephart 1997). This is based on the notion that when proprioceptive information is altered or impaired aberrant perturbations in planning occur as well as there's incorrect execution of motor commands (Sjolander submitted). Input to as well as from our legs gives us our an estimated all sensitive means of feeling postural sway. This in conjunction with stimulation of vestibular centers as well as visual input from the eyes activates the second level of motor control, located within the brainstem, which affects postural sway as well as balance control of the body. For example, when the weight of the head is pushed towards the right shoulder balance is predominantly sifted to the right side of the body (Wierzbicka 1998). When a cervical rotation is challenged by a decrease in proprioception, individuals often over recruit muscles in an attempt to stabilize (Anderson 2000). Consider how the reflexive pattern referred to by Frank Jones as the “Startle Pattern” applies to various traumas or injuries. In reaction to a sudden loud noise, [E.g. two car’s crashing into each other] the chin thrust forward as the neck muscles contract. The shoulders are lifted as well as the arms extended, the chest is flattened as well as the knees are flexed. The change, which is not instantaneous, begins in the head as well as neck, passing down the trunk as well as legs to be completed in about half a second (Jones 1976). In a car crash this startle pattern is infused with the alterations occurring from impact. The point here's that body parts do not operate in isolation. Here we can easily see how injuries that cause the chin to thrust forward, displaces the head backwards, contracts the necks muscles as well as reflexively shortens the back placing added weight as well as strain on the muscles as well as ligaments of the shoulders, arms, chest, knees as well as legs mainly because of the fact that of interference in the righting reflexes by abnormal pressure on the joints of the neck (McCullough 1996). Pain originating in the neck is known to disturb proprioceptive function of the limbs as well as the jaw. CSK PROCEDURE: Assess the anterior to posterior motion of each mastoid process of the temporal bone with its reciprocal contralateral greater sphenoid wing. When the mastoid/sphenoid complex is fixated it clearly indicates the presence of jaw clenching as well as possible grinding as well. Temporal bone fixation is also associated with deficits in the semi-circular canals negatively impacting balance. An internal temporal lesion impacts the brain stem altering major circuits that control postural equilibrium as well as numerous of the automatic as well as stereotyped movements of the body. The brain stem directly regulates as well as modulates motor activities based on the integration of sensory information from visual, vestibular, as well as proprioceptive sources (Riemann 2002). CSK employs procedures that stimulate reflex joint stabilization, which emanate from the spinal cord in conjunction with activities the patient performs that alter joint positioning necessitating reflex neuromuscular control. We further enhance motor function at the brainstem level by asking the patient to perform postural activities, both with as well as without visual input. CSK PROCEDURE: With the patient supine holding 2-5lb weights in each hand with their arms in a flexed position, request them to lift as well as hold their head off the table in flexion as well as apply downward resistance. With prolonged loading of the musculotendinous junction, the firing pattern, corresponding to the sustained muscle contraction, may become suppressed. If they’re not in a position to hold their head in this position against resistance the test is positive as well as indicates delayed firing of the deep cervical flexors, sternocleidomastoid as well as anterior scalene muscles. Delay in the activity of these neck muscles “indicates a significant deficit in the feed forward control of the cervical spine” (Sjolander 2004). A feedforward loop involving the spinal cord, brain stem as well as cerebral cortex evolves as well as a re-patterning of motor output results from aberrant proprioception (Cremonese, 1998). Lephart et al (1994) observed that individuals with chronic trauma or instability deal with significant deficits in proprioception. They suggested that proprioceptive deficits in, on behalf of example, a pathologic shoulder result in partial deafferentation as well as sensory deficits due to damage to capsuloligamentous structures. As a result of these deficits in proprioception, alterations in reflex activity as well as motor programs manifest as altered muscle-firing patterns (Myers 2002). This is demonstrated by alterations in joint motion, joint position sense as well as a loss of joint restraints. A damaged sensorimotor system won't automatically permit muscles to perform stabilization; they require to be rehabilitated (Simpson www.cdmsport.com). In the case of the shoulder Warner (1992) reports that the mechanism of muscle inhibition mainly affects the serratus anterior muscle. This was found in 100% of patients with subacromial impingement as well as in 64% of patients with glenohumeral instability. Methods that improve proprioception in patients with articular disorders can improve articular function as well as decrease the risk of reinjury. Thus it is efficacious to utilize percussive therapy (propriocussion) to remove proprioceptive deficits in unstable articular structures, as this appears to play an important role in restoring dynamic stability as well as in modulating muscle function. CSK PROCEDURE: A decrease of internal or external shoulder rotation, assessed through range of motion testing, indicates alterations in the neuromuscular firing patterns transmitted through the cortical pathway as exemplified by reduction in neuromuscular activation of the serratus anterior, pectoralis major, subscapularis as well as latissimus dorsi muscles. This indicates shoulder instability as well as altered joint kinematics. Proprioceptive Deficits in Joint Position Sense Proprioceptive deficits may contribute to the etiology of degenerative joint disease through pathologic wearing of a joint. Barrett as well as coworkers (1991) demonstrated a decline in proprioceptive driven joint position sense in patients with osteoarthritis. Skinner et al. (1984) further demonstrated decreased kinesthesia with increasing age. Thus when an elderly patient with pre-existing osteoarthritis experiences a physical trauma, such as a motor vehicle crash, their chances of sustaining injury is significantly magnified. It should be obvious that their increased age as well as the presence of osteoarthritis predisposes these patients to poor position sense as well as decreased joint motion prior to the collision, which can only be exacerbated in the presence of the force from even a low-impact motor vehicle crash. Propriocussion enhances joint position sense as well as central peripheral control by creating a bioelectrical signal that triggers an intense increase in normal flow of proprioceptive information. By removing proprioceptive deficits, restoring appropriate joint position sense as well as improving joint motion, we can surmise that applications of Propriocussion may arrest osteoarthritis. CSK PROCEDURE: With the patient supine, test the strength of the shoulder in flexion, extension, abduction as well as adduction. If they test strong have the patient place their short leg ankle over their long leg ankle – this induces gait – as well as retest. This often causes bilateral upper extremity muscle weakness indicating that the shoulder complex is not capable of bearing load as well as is recruiting back muscles to do the job. CSK PROCEDURE: With the patient supine, have them perform a straight leg raise to about 45 degrees as well as apply load while giving the command hold. If this muscle group tests strong have the patient to rotate their head as far as they can to the ipsilateral side as well as retest – this often causes that previously strong muscle test to now test weak indicating proprioceptive deficits interfering with motor control. Whenever muscles test weak their orchestration is out of phase – they are firing too late or not strongly sufficient when needed. Propriocussion as well as Nociception Over months as well as years, asymmetrical posture as well as spastic distortions can result in muscle imbalances that give rise to joint dysfunction. Kozijavkin (2005) states: “Increased muscle tone, pathological reflexes as well as movements patterns, as well as improper body position causes changes of the joints, shortening of the spastic muscles, tendons as well as ligaments, as well as abnormalities of blood circulation as well as metabolism.” Propriocussion intensifies reduction of spasticity as well as eliminates trigger points in the muscles with the added benefit of correcting autonomic disturbances. As agonist/antagonist muscle relationship change, the muscles on the left side may become shorter as well as stronger than those on the right. An aberrant proprioceptive pattern, corresponding to abnormal tonicity of both agonist as well as antagonist muscles evolves. Such a modification in proprioception seems to elicit postural changes that lower the nociceptive threshold as well as trigger a lingering pain response (Cremonese 1998, Norris 1993). Fuhr (1997) makes “a strong case that a decrease in mechanoreceptor input, as a result of the loss of mobility, can result in hyperirritable nociceptors response, resulting in certain pain syndromes.” Applying Melzack’s gate control theory, which simplified states: “An increase in sensory input shall block nociceptive pathways” we can see that a steady state percussive wave supplies the increased sensory input necessary to restore balance to muscle groups improving neuromuscular function as well as blocking nociceptive (pain) transmitting pathways (Cremonese, 1998). CSK PROCEDURE: Ever had a patient come into your office as well as say, “I don’t know what happened I just bent over to pick up a “pencil” as well as now I can’t straighten up as well as I’m having a lot of difficulty walking. Do you have any crutches? Have the patient “sit” down on your table (not lie down) as well as request them to bend forward dangling their arms between their legs. This activates the core stabilizer muscles, the transverse abdominals, the pelvic floor muscles, as well as the diaphragm. It is these core stabilizer muscles that are not firing milliseconds before the global muscles as they should as well as thus the patient has difficulty standing from a seated position as well as walking. Apply propriocussion to the spiral muscle group that Paul Chek calls the lateral system, e.g. the gluteus maximus as well as the contralateral quadratus lumborum. Also percuss directly over the sacrum as well as lumbar spine. Spiral Muscle Groups A cornerstone of Cerebrospinal Kinesiology Rehabilitation is to influence the performance of the spiral muscle groups using the principles of proprioceptive correction. CSK focuses on functional coordination of spiral muscle groups during movements by emphasizing concordant position as well as movement of the trunk as well as extremities. The spiral muscle groups develop concurrently with motor development as well as are important on behalf of compound movements. “Spiral muscle groups cross the body from one side to another as well as join the left as well as right side as well as the upper as well as lower part of the body. They ensure bilateral symmetry as well as proper posture of the body in the field of gravity; crossed coordination of the upper as well as lower extremities during locomotion (walking, running, jumping), as well as shock-absorption during movements. Spiral muscle groups support the spine, secure the head position during movements, support physiological spinal curves, take part in the movement of the thorax during respiration as well as provide a stable position of the body as well as extremities” (Kozijavkin 2005). Paul Chek refers to these spiral muscle groups as the deep longitudinal system, the posterior oblique system, the anterior oblique system as well as the lateral system stating that he adopted these concepts from Gracovetsky’s Spinal Engine (1998) as well as Diane Lee’s The Pelvic Girdle (1999). Myers (1997) believes it is more accurate to view the body as a series of interrelated myofascial chains. In the case of injury or trauma pathological motor development is accompanied by functional distortion of existing spiral muscle groups as well as formation of pathological muscle chains. “The spirals of the human musculature are mirror images of each other. Designating the right side of the pelvis as a starting point, the muscle sheet of one of the spirals travels diagonally around the side of the torso, crossing over the front mid-section to wrap diagonally upward to the left side of the torso, where the road of muscle makes a “Y’, one avenue junctioning with the muscles of the left arm, the other avenue snaking its way diagonally across the back, continuing on its diagonal journey across the neck to hook onto the head behind the ear in its original hemisphere of the right side (Myers 1997). CSK PROCEDURE: With the patient supine have them perform an active straight leg raise (ASLR) as well as request them to hold as you apply resistance. In isolation this might test strong. However, as “upper extremity motion occurs with consistent synergistic muscle activation patterns in the legs as well as trunk” (McMullen 2000) request the patient to reach upward with both arms to the shoulder level as well as have them transfer them in an alternating pattern from inferior to superior. Retest the ASLR as well as it shall often become weak indicating delayed activation of leg as well as trunk muscles before activation of the anterior deltoid. McMullen (2000) describes the normal sequential pattern associated with right arm movement to include: “Deactivation of the left soleus, activation of the right tensor fascia lata as well as rectus femoris, activation of the left semitendinosis as well as gluteus maximus, as well as ultimately activation of the right erector spinae before initial deltoid activity.” Because muscles are like large “sheets” that form spirals around the human torso, the simple act of raising the arm can't be made without involving the muscles of low back as well as pelvis. The act of turning the head affects the musculature in the lower back; conversely, the muscular condition of the lower back affects cervical range of motion. Propriocussion supplies stable consistent sensory information that replaces inconsistent messages from damaged tissue. Propriocussion induces proprioceptive responses, which are “conveyed to all levels of the central nervous system, where it provides a unique sensory component to optimize motor control,” (Riemann 2002). The result of clinical experience indicates the inclusion of propriocussive treatments as part of a rehabilitative program help return patients to preinjury levels of activity following ligament as well as muscle injuries. REFERENCES Anderson, B.D. as well as Spector, A., Introduction to pilates-based rehabilitation. Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Clinics of North America 2000; 9 (3): 395-410. Barrett, D.S., A.G. Cobb, as well as G. Bentley. Joint proprioception in normal, osteoarthritic, as well as replaced knees. J. Bone Joint Surg. (Br.) 1991; 73B: 53-56. Barrett D S. Proprioception as well as function at the end of anterior cruciate reconstruction. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 1991; 73 (5): 833-7. Borsa PA. The effects of joint position as well as direction of joint motion on proprioceptive sensibility in anterior cruciate ligament-deficient athletes. Am J Sports Med 1997;25:336-340. PubMed Abstract Carrington, Walter, as well as Sean Carey. Explaining the Alexander Technique: The Writings of F. Matthias Alexander. London: The Sheildrake Press, 1992. Chek, Back Strong & Beltless –Part I & II: Cremonese et al, Oscillating Percussion Treatment 1998 Sigma Instruments.Fourth Interdisciplinary Congress on Low Back as well as Pelvic Pain in Montreal (Nov. 8-10, 2001). Fuhr AW, Colloca C, Green JR, as well as Keller TS. Activator Methods Chiropractic Technique. St. Louis: Mosby, 1997. Gordon, J. & Ghez, C. Muscle receptors as well as spinal reflexes: the stretch reflex. In Kandel, E.R.; Schwartz, J.H.; Jessell, T.M. (Eds.). Principles of Neural Science (3rd ed). (pp. 564-580). Norwalk, CT: Appleton & Lange, 1991. Gracovetsky, S. The Spinal Engine. Wien, New York: Springer-Verlag, 1988. Gurney et al, Role of Fatigue on Proprioception of the Ankle. Journal of Exercise Physiology 2000; 3 (1): online. Hodges P W, Richardson C A, Inefficient muscular stabilization of the lumbar spine associated with low back pain. A motor control evaluation of transversus abdominis. Spine 1996; 21(22): 2640-2650. Jones, Frank, P.. Body Awareness in Action. With a foreword by J. McVicker Hunt. New York: Schocken Books Inc., 1976. Kozijavkin et al, Intensive Neurophysiological Rehabilitation System. The Kozijavkin Method. Cerebral Palsy Magazine 2004; 3 (3): 18-29. Kozijavkin et al, Correction of Movement Utilizing the “Spiral” Suit – an Important Part of Kozijavkin Method. Cerebral Palsy Magazine 2004; 3 (6): 14-16. Lee D. the Pelvic Girdle (2nd. Ed.) – An Approach to the Examination as well as Treatment of the Lumbo-Pelvic-Hip Region. Churchill Livingstone, 1999. Lephart et al, Proprioception Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Journal of Sport Rehabilitation 1992; 1: 188-196. Lephart SM, Proprioceptive considerations on behalf of sport rehabilitation. J Sport Rehab 1994; 3:2-115. Lephart et al, Proprioception of the shoulder joint in healthy, unstable, as well as surgically repaired shoulder. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 1994; 3: 371-380. Lephart S, et al. The role of proprioception in the management as well as rehabilitation of athletic injuries. Am J Sports Med 1997; 25 (1): 130-137. [Medline] McCullough CP, The AlexanderTechnique on behalf of Musicians: Excerpts from The Alexander Technique as well as the String Pedagogy of Paul Rolland 1996, online. McMullen et al, A Kinetic Chain Approach on behalf of Shoulder Rehabilitation. Journal of Athletic Training 2000; 35(3): 329-337. Michaelson P et al, Vertical posture as well as head stability in patients with chronic neck pain. J Rehabil Med 2003; 35: 229-35. Moseley GL et al, Does anticipation of back pain predispose to back trouble? Brain 2004 [Epub in advance of print] Myers, JB et al, Sensorimotor Deficits Contributing to Glenohumeral Instability. Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research 2002; (400):98-104. Myers, TW, The ‘Anatomy Trains’, Journal of bodywork as well as Movement Therapies 1997: 1(2), 91-101 Nathan as well as Keller, Measurement as well as Analysis of the In Vivo Posteroanterior Impulse Response of the Human Thoracolumbar Spine: A Feasibility Study. Journal of Manipulative as well as Physiological Therapeutics 1994; 17 (7): Norris, C.M, Abdominal muscle training in sport. British Journal of Sports Medicine 1993; 27: 19-27. O’Sullivan et al, The effect of different standing as well as sitting postures on trunk muscle activity in a pain free population. 4th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low back Pain, Montreal 2001. Reiter, M.J. & Cato, N. (1970). Dynamic Posture as well as Conditioning on behalf of Women. Minneapolis, MN: Burgess Publishing Company. Riemann, B.L.; Lephart S.M, The Sensorimotor System, Part I: The Physiologic Basis of Functional Joint Stability. Journal of Athletic Training 2002: 37(1); 71-79 Roberts et al, Knee joint proprioception in ACL-deficient knees is related to cartilage injury, laxity as well as age A retrospective study of 54 patients. Acta Orthop Scand 2004; 75 (1): 78–83. Sandlund, J.D., M. Ryhed, B. Hamberg, J. Johansson, H., Reduced shoulder proprioception in patients with whiplash associated disorders (WAD), 8th International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapists´ Conference, International Convention Centre, Cape Town, South Africa, 2004. Schulte et al, Oscillatory devices accelerate proprioception training. BioMechanics May 2001; Website archive www.biomech.com/db_area/archives/2001/0105.puttest.bio.shtml. Simpson, R., Motor Control, Muscle Function, as well as the Instant Replay. www.cdmsport.com/ireplay/simpson.html Skinner H B, Barrack R L, Cook S D. Age-related decline in proprioception. Clin Orthop 1984; 184: 208-11. Solomonow et al, The Ligamento-Muscular Stabilizing System of the Spine. Spine 1998; 23(23):2552-2562. Sjölander P, et al, Spinal as well as supraspinal effects of activity in ligament afferents, Journal of Electromyography as well as Kinesiology 2002; 12: 167-176. Sjölander P, et al Sensorimotor disturbances in chronic neck pain – range of motion, peak velocity, smoothness of movement, as well as repositioning acuity 2004 (submitted). Sjolander: Motor dysfunctions in chronic neck pain. Southern Lapland Research Department, Vilhelmina, as well as Centre on behalf of Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gavle, Umea (submitted). Warner et at. Scapulothoracic motion in normal shoulders as well as shoulder with glenhumeral instability as well as impingement syndrome: a study using Moire topographic analysis. Clin Orthop 1992;285:191-9. Wierzbicka MM, et al, Vibration-induced postural post effects. J Neurophysiol. 1998; 79 (1):143-50. Zindler, Ray, Seminar: Integrating Functional Muscle Testing as well as Postural Analysis into Chiropractic Care. A Diagnostic as well as Technique Workshop (Central Motor Programming Technique). http://www.fraserchiro.ca/Syllabus.htm        http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/10/propriocussion-a-sensorymotor-integration-therapy.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:54:07 -0500 elearu http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/22/why-does-an-auto-injury-heal-so-slowly.html One reason is that an estimated all bodies release a large amount of relaxin into the system. The body does this to promote healing by increasing the elasticity as well as relaxation of muscles, tendons, as well as ligaments. If it didn’t do this you’d be stiff as a board as well as not in a position to transfer at the end of a traumatic event such as a auto collison. Relaxin is a polypeptide cytokine that is present in both males as well as females. Cytokines signal the body to perform certain tasks.  It’s predominant action is to increase the turnover of fibrous connective tissues e.g. muscles, ligaments as well as tendons. Relaxin does this by altering collagen metabolism in fibroblasts. Changes in both ligament laxity as well as muscle strength are associated with the presence of relaxin. When we receive traumatic injuries, such as those sustained in a rear end car crash, numerous bodies release relaxin which binds to ligaments increasing the amount as well as rate of ligament movement. This is a protective measure the body employs, but it creates a condition known as ligament laxity which actually slows the healing process. There is some evidence that excess ligament laxity may predispose a joint to osteoarthritis. Relaxin binds to injured ligaments as well as does so more in females than it does in males. This is likely due to the fact that relaxin is also a primary hormone released during pregnancy that enables the female pelvis to widen in order to accommodate passage of the child through the birth canal. So why does the body release relaxin when it causes ligament laxity? The answer is actually simple. Relaxin improves the functional healing as well as recovery of muscles subjected to a traumatic injury, thus speeding the healing process. Relaxin enhances muscle regeneration as well as improves injured muscle strength while at the same time decreasing the formation of fibrosis thus reducing potential scarring. However, an injured muscle often does not fully recover its strength because of the fact that complete muscle regeneration is hindered by the development of fibrosis. That the reason the application of Propriocussion to injured muscles is so important. Propriocussion increases circulation as well as an estimated all importantly restores communication between the injured area as well as the brain which increases muscle strength/function, range of motion, flexibility as well as coordination. During the healing process muscle strength returns first, than pain dissipates as well as lastly. numbness as well as tingling, if present, subside.        http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/22/why-does-an-auto-injury-heal-so-slowly.html Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:05:47 -0500 elearu http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/25/are-your-neck-and-shoulders-rolling-forward.html Maintaining an upright posture isn’t all that easy these days. Why? Because we just sit to much. When we stand correct posture is governed by two different systems, one that produces lateral sway along the frontal plane as well as the anterior to posterior sway which follows the Sagittal plane. Our postural control system is supposed to help us perform tasks that involve standing. The an estimated all obvious ones are walking, standing, working out at the gym, playing a sport. The first way we lose, what is incorrectly termed, voluntary motor control of our limbs as well as joints is by loss of proprioception - this is a sensory loss. Do you suffer from this kind of loss? Here’s a simple way to find out. You’ll require a partner on behalf of this. PART I I desire you to lie down on your back on behalf of a moment. The floor is perfect. Now I desire your partner to lift as well as hold your right leg up about 20-30 degrees. Next, have your partner verbally instruct you to hold your leg in this position as strongly as you can on your posses - without their assistance Your partner now instead of assisting you in hold your leg up places their hand just above your knee as well as gives the command HOLD as well as pushes down to get a sense of how strong you leg is in this position. Get a sense of how much pressure your partner has to apply before you just can't hold against it. We desire to establish a strength baseline which we’re going to utilize to compare against. The command HOLD is asking you to do something. If your voluntary motor system is working you should be able to hold up you leg, just as easily as you shake hands or open a door. By the way if you can't hold your leg up at all, or it gets tired pretty quickly, that’s an important message. It means you’re about to jog out of gas as well as be stranded out on the highway of life. It means you require to do the Propriocussion therapy I’m about to show you or please go see a good chiropractor, osteopath or acupuncturist right away. PART II The next step is to find out if you have deficits when we challenge your somatosensory system, your ears (vestibular) as well as your eyes (visual). Have your partner assist you in raising you leg to the 30-40 degree position again. I desire you to reserve your strength on behalf of the next part. Your ears are sensory as well as they affect your posture as well as your ability to perform voluntary movements properly. Take your hands as well as cover both of your ears. Partner says HOLD as well as pushes, again above the knee, gently by firmly. In an estimated all cases, you shall be considerable weaker than your were previously. Most of my clients find they have entirely lost the strength to hold up their leg even on behalf of a moment. It just gives out. PART III Well that was feasable a surprise on behalf of numerous of you. What shall be even more of a surprise, perhaps even shock, is how promptly you’re going to fix this, how you’re going to do it - all by yourself - as well as what an incredible difference it shall manufacture when you do these proprioceptive tests again. Ok, last test. We’re going to repeat the cycle only this time I desire you to close both eyes as well as see if you can hold your leg up. Cover both eyes with your hands. Partner says HOLD as well as see if you can resist as he pushes done. Far excessive number of of you shall lose the strength to hold you leg up. Why? Because there’s a short in the circuit, a clog in the plumbing. The brain hears the message HOLD, but doesn’t transmit this message to the muscles as well as thus you can't perform this task - indicating that the sensory system controls all motor output. Important! Now that we’ve identified the problem let me offer you a simple solution. It’s referred to as proprioceptive therapy. The easiest, least expensive way to apply this therapy is with a colored light of the proper intensity. The one I utilize delivers aprx 45milliwatts of blue light. Once you have this light you simply shine over each of 4 special points on behalf of 5-10 seconds as well as than retest as well as you’ll find that the person who previously tested weak no longer does.        http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/25/are-your-neck-and-shoulders-rolling-forward.html Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:19:26 -0500 elearu http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/26/your-forward-head-position-may-be-killing-you.html There’s a provocative statement. Why did I manufacture it? I have this nifty wrist blood pressure device from Omron. As a doctor I take people’s blood pressure on a regular basis as well as I wanted an easy way to monitor my own. Last night, just before retiring I took my blood pressure as well as found it a bit high at 151/85 with a pulse rate of 78. Ugh! This at the end of I’d been out playing golf on behalf of several hours too. I put my head into extension - bending it back as far as it would comfortable go as well as retook my blood pressure while in this position - 122/80 pulse 71. Wow! That’s a significant drop. In disbelief, I took it again with the results being 123/81/71. When I got up in the morning I took my blood pressure readings again. Yikes 145/78 pulse 75. What’s going on I thought? I tilted my head back as well as my readings dropped to 136/71/68. Again a signficant drop in blood pressure as well as heart rate just by putting my head into extension. I wondered if my readings would increase if I flexed my chin toward my chest as well as took a reading - 136/80/73. Well no, that didn’t manufacture things worse as I’d thought it might. I did extension again as well as got 115/69/69. Nice!! Back into full flexion resulted in 120/72/68. Ok, I’m just going to sit up straight in my normal position with my head neither in flexion or extension as well as see what I get - result 144/75/78. What do I conclude from this simple experiment. When my head is in what I think is a normal position my heart is working much harder. My blood pressure increases dramatically as does my pulse rate. I’ll bet the same is true on behalf of you. What are we going to do about this? Forward Head Posture Exercise: First thing is manufacture sure that you moving your head into positions of full flexion as well as extension throughout the day. Anytime your sit with you head in a static position it’s likely to increase your blood pressure readings. You NEED to manufacture a CONSCIOUS EFFORT to perform the simple yoga exercise of moving your head into flexion - count from five to ten; transfer your head into extension - count from five to ten; repeat this cycle 3 times. Do this at the very least once an hour. This simple act could help you reside longer. Of course, you might also require to get that forward head posture of yours taken care of at your local Chiropractor. Whenever I see a person with forward head carriage I can bet I’ll see a straight neck on a lateral cervical x-ray view. This means the normal, healthy curve of the neck is gone. Forward head posture is often associated with headaches, TMJ, as well as chronic neck pain. Forward head posture puts a lot of stress on you - it can put a huge amount of strain on the blood vessels that jog on either side of your neck - especially that ones at the top that go right through holes in the vertebrae themselves. Do you think this could be a problem? Yes is the right answer. Chiropractic can help you restore the normal curve in your neck or at the very least increase your neck’s range of motion as well as flexibility. I do this on behalf of my patients every day. The optimal position of the head to the neck is not a fixed position, but a dynamic balance by which the weight of the head is balanced under the changing conditions of the body in activity. To maintain correct posture on behalf of your head/neck as well as shoulders I recommend you get and Use the Cervical Spine Trainer 15-20 minutes every day Releases neck pain, stiffness & discomfort fast Patented up & down motion promotes lubricates a herniated disc Dramatically restores the correct cervical curve Lightweight, portable, easy to operate & travel with Beautifully crafted, made in the USA as well as built to last Used in over 500,000 cases worldwide Click Image to Order Price: $197 USD In all cases, a health care professional should be consulted before beginning any exercise program. See disclaimer page on this site.        http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/26/your-forward-head-position-may-be-killing-you.html Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:52:13 -0500 elearu http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/28/the-posture-pal-corrects-forward-head-posture.html For those of you who desire a device that shall help in reversing your forward head posture I recommend the Posture Pal. The Posture Pal is a Posture Corrector The Posture Pal is a specially designed cushion that provides posture support by bringing your head as well as shoulders into a healthy, normal postural position. Sitting with better posture encourages you to perform, balanced functional motions on behalf of your neck which helps correct posture as well as stop common upper body aches as well as pains. Poor Posture produces Forward Head Posture as well as Rounded Shoulder The damaging effects of poor posture are: Aches as well as pains in the upper torso, neck as well as shoulders Headaches Pinching pain in front of shoulders Sharp pain in ribs or back Use the Posture Pal 5-20 minutes a day on behalf of Correct Posture? Posture-Pal shown without its protective cover. Click image to purchase Use your Posture Pal between 5 as well as 20 minutes at least once daily subject to your physical condition. Better posture is within your grasp with the Posture Pal, a unique posture corrector that is highly recommended by Chiropractors as well as other health care professionals throughout the world TESTIMONIALS “All my life I have had ’rounded shoulders’ as well as not a very good standing position, since the first utilize of Posture Pal my shoulders have pulled back as well as I have noticed the strain I felt in my neck as well as shoulders disappear. I am more upright as well as my chest size seems to have increased because of the fact that it is pushed out now instead of being pulled under. Posture Pal is extremely comfortable as well as I find it very easy to completely relax as well as drift off to sleep often. Wonderful product!!! — Ian J Holmes, Bowen Therapist, Bradford, England “I have never seen any device work quicker with greater patient compliance, not even traction. Posture Pal works. Period”. – Dr. Joseph Ventura, posture expert as well as author of the Posture Pro computerized posture analysis system. “I just received the Posture Pal today - as well as I absolutely love it. I knew what my neck has looked like since chiropractic school, as well as have been using all sorts of ideas trying to restore the curve to my neck. I had a lateral film taken a few months back, as well as to my dismay, my neck was still as straight as it was when I left school three years ago. Anyways, at the end of using it on behalf of 20 minutes on my lunch hour today, I could notice a difference already — so I had my CA take a lateral film to see if anything changed. I couldn’t trust it For the first time in years, there was a curve! Obviously, I still have work to do, but I was amazed to see a physical modification on x-ray at the end of one use!” – Dr. Lisa Olszewski, Chelsea, MI “After so numerous years of physical abuse playing in the NBA, my body was really sore as well as tired. Then I discovered Posture Pal. What a relief! For the first time in numerous years my upper body is relaxed as well as free of pain.” – Wallace Bryant , former NBA Center as well as Power Forward on behalf of the Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76er’s as well as Orlando Magic. “It’s working great! My shoulder is no longer hurting as well as my shoes are wearing properly (the actual sole of the shoe as well as not the side of the sole). I’m not a chiropractor, just a person who found your web site while searching on behalf of answers to my problem which I had figured out was impingement of my right shoulder because of the fact that of improper posture because of the fact that of the FHP. I no longer walk with my face pointing downwards, as well as I now see more of the world I do have to remind myself about my mental habit if I starting seeing my shoes again when walking.” – Chris Osborn, Long Beach, CA “I have been using Posture Pal daily on behalf of about a month now in conjunction with physical therapy, as well as the results are amazing. My posture has improved remarkably, as well as my neck as well as shoulder aches are an estimated completely gone. This is probably one of the only products in the market that treats FHP difficulties with convenience, ease, as well as efficacy. I strongly recommend it.” – L. Pichoo, Malaysia “Brilliant!!! There isn’t a product out there as easy to utilize or as enjoyable as Posture Pal.” – Dr. Jeff Fountain, Boulder, CO “Using PosturePal on behalf of only two days as well as I can already see as well as feel an improvement in my posture. My round shoulders aren’t round anymore! Amazing!” – Carolyn Wilson BTAA, Retired Nurse & Bowen Therapist, Lancaster, England “Anyone who is concerned with proper posture as well as reducing physical stress on the body needs to have this technology in their office.” – Dr. Chris Long, Canmore, Alberta, Canada “I was never really excited about selling products to my patients because of the fact that an estimated all other things I have looked into didn’t produce a consistent positive result until I discovered Posture Pal. My patients notice an immediate difference in their ability to improve their posture.” – Dr. Marshall Dickholtz, Jr., Northbrook, IL “As a chiropractor, in addition to adjusting, I utilize several different types of devices on behalf of spinal as well as postural correction. I endeavour them all myself so that I can relate to what the patient is experiencing as well as also because of the fact that I too have a degree of “Forward Head Posture”. Now, the Posture Pal is the only one I utilize on behalf of myself on behalf of 20 minutes, 5 days a week. Some of the devices I utilize are fairly aggressive as well as not tolerated well by some patients however I haven’t found anyone who can’t tolerate the Posture Pal. “PosturePal has been really good on behalf of me. As long as I can remember my right hip has stuck out as well as therapy hasn’t held it in place but now both my hips as well as shoulders are level. Great stuff!” – Hilda Donaldson BTAA, IIHHT - Massage & Aromatherapist, Bowen therapist, Skelmersdale, Lancashire, England        http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/28/the-posture-pal-corrects-forward-head-posture.html Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:56:32 -0500 elearu http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/29/forward-head-posture-exercise.html Over the past 10 or more years I’ve been concerned about my blood pressure. It has tended to jog high 165/110. My pulse was too fast hovering around 80 at resting as well as climbing to 120 when I insulted my body with the wrong foods - mostly anything with wheat/grain in it. Last time I took one of those physicals on behalf of the insurance company I passed with flying colors - except my blood pressure. This, as some of you know, causes your premium to sore. To get the lower premium you have to get your blood pressure down as well as have your doctor certify that this is indeed the case - they won’t take your word on behalf of it. You’re probably wondering what this has to do with exercise as well as forward head posture. I’m getting to that so please read on This morning I got up as well as took my blood pressure. It was a little high. So I took it again. Your blood pressure can fluctuate considerable from moment to moment. For some reason I decided to tilt my head back when I took it the second time as well as I got a considerable lowering reading. I too am a self made victim of forward head carriage as I spend a lot of time on the computer, driving a car, watching TV - well anything we do in a seated position is going to create forward head carriage; it’s that simple. When I tilted my head back as well as got the lower reading I thought that it must be affecting the carotid arteries. There are two of these on either side of our necks as well as they supply blood from the heart to our brain. that makes them pretty important. I tilted my head back as well as took my blood pressure again. It was really low again 128/65. Wow! All of a sudden I got a flash. I remembered how I got nosedrops down my stuffed up nose when I was a kid. I’d lie sideways on the bed with my head tilted over the edge. I thought, hey this might help with my forward head carriage. So I assumed the position. As soon as I started to drop my head into this extended position I felt my body react. I got pains in my shoulders - more in the right. My back muscles tensed up as if they were saying: “Wow, what are you doing? You never put your head like that as well as you anticipate us to like it? It was obvious they didn’t. I decided to put my head over the edge a little more. The reaction throughout my body was too intense. I had to back off. I get back to neutral as well as edged my head over the side, creating a reaction that I could at least deal with. The right shoulder burned. I found myself take my hands combined over my chest as well as started doing yoga like movement bringing them up as well as reaching over my head. I repeated this several times. Hands together, up over the head doing variations the left as well as right. This helped loosen the tense muscles as well as soon caused releases (indicated by cracking) in my shoulder. I bent my knees as well as shifted them to the left, back to center, as well as than to the right. I than did this in concert with my arms. All the while with my head tilted over the edge of the bed. Once I’d done this on behalf of a few minutes, I increased my head tilt again. This time I could maintain the position as well as I again performed movements to help ease my bodies reaction. Don’t forget to turn your head from side to side a few times - this increases left/right rotation. It seems that we spend so much time in a forward head carriage position that it inflicts a host of responses as well as adaptations in the muscles of the body as well as the bones they’re attached to. For as the saying goes - muscles transfer bones. I don’t desire you to think I spent a lot of time doing this. It was maybe 5 minutes. I got back into a seated position. Raised up my chin as well as took another blood pressure reading with the result of 125/68. I’m going to spent a few minutes every morning putting my head over the edge of the bed into the extension position. Perhaps this shall help counteract the numerous hours throughout the day that I spend seated which is diagnostic of forward head carriage as well as a whole host of related postural distortions that I, as a Chiropractor, treat daily. I encourage you to perform this exercise yourself, everday! It shall likely, lower your blood pressure, improve your posture as well as reverse some of the damage you’re doing to your spine as well as joints. I’m going to do another round. I at all times liked yoga where we repeated an exercise position (asana) three times. You do that in the gym too, don’t you? Let’s agree to do three reps of 5 minutes each with our heads over the edge of the bed, in extension. Yours in Health - Dr. Ted Edwards DC - Edmonds Chiropractic Therapy Clinic To maintain correct posture on behalf of your head/neck as well as shoulders I recommend you get and Use the Cervical Spine Trainer 15-20 minutes every day Releases neck pain, stiffness & discomfort fast Patented up & down motion promotes lubricates a herniated disc Dramatically restores the correct cervical curve Lightweight, portable, easy to operate & travel with Beautifully crafted, made in the USA as well as built to last Used in over 500,000 cases worldwide Click Image to Order Price: $197 USD In all cases, a health care professional should be consulted before beginning any exercise program. See disclaimer page on this site.        http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/29/forward-head-posture-exercise.html Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:04:36 -0500 elearu http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/07/the-breath-of-life-is-in-your-cerebrospinal-fluid.html The “Breath of Life” is contained within the Cerebrospinal Fluid. In Sanskrit, this force is referred to as “PRANA” – or Absolute Energy, the Vital Force, the Essence of Life, Chi, etc. Propriocussion is a contact approach to neural activation of the Prana in our CSF as is the action of deep breathing. The Act is  motion. It induces the circulation of CSF, the Prana in our bodies. We do not jog out of Prana. It does not require to be replenished. It just needs not to stagnate through lack of motion causing lack of expression. CSF is the flywheel of our mental as well as physical machinery our mind-body. The “tide” in the ocean ebbs as well as flows just as it does inside each of us. While gravity as well as the influence of the moon affects the tide it does so in man. Propriocussion as well as breathing also contributes to the motion, the ebb as well as flow of our CSF tide. By accentuating our breathing we are able to accentuate the movement of our CSF, which shall dispel the disease we experience. Your overall health depends on the proper flow of CSF Your mental health, happiness, self-image, clear-sightedness (vision) are dependent on proper movement of the CSF. Improving your breathing improves the CSF circulation, which gives you improved health as well as a vigorous attitude toward ll that life demands. When CSF flows properly the bounce of youth is restored. Dr. Stone, founder of Polarity Therapy discussed the wireless anatomy of man. We have an “energetic anatomy” just as we have a physical anatomy, as well as the illnesses we manifest occur in the energy body (energetic anatomy) before they appear in the physical body.” http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/07/the-breath-of-life-is-in-your-cerebrospinal-fluid.html Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:45:08 -0500 elearu http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/05/reversing-forward-head-posture.html Over the past 10 or more years I’ve been concerned about my blood pressure. It has tended to jog high 165/110. My pulse was too fast hovering around 80 at resting as well as climbing to 120 when I insulted my body with the wrong foods - mostly anything with wheat/grain in it. Last time I took one of those physicals on behalf of the insurance company I passed with flying colors - except my blood pressure. This, as some of you know, causes your premium to sore. To get the lower premium you have to get your blood pressure down as well as have your doctor certify that this is indeed the case - they won’t take your word on behalf of it. You’re probably wondering what this has to do with exercise as well as forward head posture. I’m getting to that so please . . . I’ve been working on lowering my blood pressure on behalf of my next insurance exam. I’ve been on a program using the heart disease related products of Dr. Hans Nieper in conjunction with large doses of Flax Oil. The changes that I’m expiercing have been the an estimated all dramatic in my entire life. And yes indeed my blood pressure as well as even more importantly my heart rate (pulse) have dropped. I’ve actually seen my pulse reading at 60. That’s never happened. At least not since I started being aware of reading a pulse regularly. This morning I got up as well as took my blood pressure. It was a little high. So I took it again. Your blood pressure can fluctuate considerable from moment to moment. For some reason I decided to tilt my head back when I took it the second time as well as I got a considerable lowering reading. I too am a self made victim of forward head carriage as I spend a lot of time on the computer, driving a car, watching TV - well anything we do in a seated position is going to create forward head carriage; it’s that simple. When I tilted my head back as well as got the lower reading I thought that it must be affecting the carotid arteries. There are two of these on either side of our necks as well as they supply blood from the heart to our brain. that makes them pretty important. I tilted my head back as well as took my blood pressure again. It was really low again 128/65. Wow! That might get me a lower premium on behalf of my life insurance. Not! All of a sudden I got a flash. I remembered how I got nosedrops down my stuffed up nose when I was a kid. I’d lie sideways on the bed with my head tilted over the edge. I though, hey this might help with my forward head carriage. So I assumed the position. As soon as I started to drop my head into this extended position I felt my body react. I got pains in my shoulders - more in the right. My back muscles tensed up as if they were saying: “Wow, what are you doing? You never put your head like that as well as you anticipate us to like it? It was obvious they didn’t. I decided to put my head over the edge a little more. The reaction throughout my body was too intense. I had to back off. I get back to neutral as well as edged my head over the side, creating reaction that I could at least deal with. The right shoulder burned. I found myself take my hands combined over my chest as well as started doing yoga like movement bringing them up as well as reaching over my head. I repeated this several times. Hands together, up over the head doing variations the left as well as right. This helped loosen the tense muscles as well as soon caused releases (indicated by cracking) in my shoulder. I bent my knees as well as shifted them to the left, back to center, as well as than to the right. I than did this in concert with my arms. All the while with my head tilted over the edge of the bed. Once I’d done this on behalf of a few minutes, I increased my head tilt again. This time I could maintain the position as well as I again performed movements to help ease my bodies reaction. Don’t forget to turn your head from side to side a few times - this increase my left/right rotation. It seems that we spend so much time in a forward head carriage position that it inflicts a host of responses as well as adaptations in the muscles of the body as well as the bones they’re attached to. For as the saying goes - muscles transfer bones. I don’t desire you to think I spent a lot of time doing this. It was maybe 5 minutes. I got back into a seated position. Raised up my chin as well as took another blood pressure reading with the result of 125/68. I’m going to spent a few minutes every morning putting my head over the edge of the bed into the extension position. Perhaps this shall help counteract the numerous hours throughout the day that I spend seated which is diagnostic of forward head carriage as well as a whole host of related postural distortions that I, as a Chiropractor, treat daily. I encourage you to perform this exercise yourself, everday! It shall likely, lower your blood pressure, improve your posture as well as reverse some of the damage you’re doing to your spine as well as joints. I’m going to do another round. I at all times liked yoga where we repeated an exercise position (asana) three times. You do that in the gym too, don’t you? The sets of a number of reps. Let’s agree to do three reps of 5 minutes each with our heads over the edge of the bed, in extension. You can me inventive about what else you do while you’re in this position. If you’re totally comfortable, you can just lie there. If you discover that your body is telling you things - perform some movements until you find the ones that help relieve you the most. Yours in Health - Dr. Ted Chiropractic Wellness, The Allergy Expert, http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/05/reversing-forward-head-posture.html Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:54:29 -0500 elearu http://elearu.recordtrades.com/2008/11/08/propriocussion-a-sensorymotor-integration-therapy.html By Dr. Ted Edwards, DC – Originator of “Cerebrospinal Kinesiology” “Cerebrospinal Kinesiology” (CSK) includes a proprioceptive rehabilitation system that creates a new functional state in the patient. It does this by acting upon three distinct levels of motor control in the central nervous system (CNS): 1. Spinal reflexes influencing unconscious movement patterns. 2. Motor cortex activity on behalf of conscious cognitive awareness of body position as well as motion. 3. Brain stem activity between the basal ganglia as well as cerebellum to maintain posture as well as balance. Because proprioception at the motor cortex level is necessary on behalf of proper muscle as well as joint function in activities of daily living as well as occupational tasks, loss of proprioception greatly impedes coordination as well as predisposes one to injury as well as re-injury (Lephart 1992, Gurney 2000). The proprioceptive input to the brain stem emanates from the joint as well as muscle proprioceptors, our ears, as well as our eyes. The cerebellum interprets proprioceptive information as well as formulates a plan on what the next muscle action should be to accomplish the desired task (e.g. activities of daily living). The cerebellum then sends this plan to the motor cortex of the brain, which in turn sends the appropriate commands through the nervous system to the involved muscles. This all occurs in a fraction of a millisecond, as well as the whole time the cerebellum is receiving more proprioceptive feedback as well as continually adjusting its motor plan to fine tune the movements being taken. “Proprioceptors tell us not only where our body parts are in relation to each other as well as the outside world but also how fast as well as where they may be moving” (Simpson). Proprioception is the ability of the nervous system to instantly determine the relative positions in space of each limb as well as other body components providing feedback the brain uses to manufacture appropriate neuromuscular adjustments. Proprioceptive damage from trauma or injury alters movement patterns due to partial deafferentation as well as is accompanied by secondary changes in the central nervous system that negatively impact the neuromuscular system. Neuromuscular Control as well as Proprioceptive Acuity A patient who presents with virtually any injury has both proprioceptive deficits as well as mechanical instability, what Paul Chek refers to as sensory-motor amnesia, a concept he borrowed from Thomas Hanna (1988). These are assessed as alterations in neuromuscular control typically exhibited as deficits in range of motion, increases in muscle splinting, loss of muscle strength as well as joint position sense as well as increased nociceptive output. When articular structures loose their functional stability they tend to exhibit an increase in laxity. This makes them more prone to additional ligamentous instability from the micro-trauma of repetitive injury (Lephart 1992). Schulte’s study (2001) suggests that proprioceptive acuity can be enhanced with oscillatory devices. Enhancing proprioceptive acuity assists the patient to regain joint position sense, initiates reflex muscular stabilization, as well as corrects faulty motor programming. Reiter & Cato (1970) indicated that the development of proprioception might be the an estimated all important factor on behalf of postural realignment. The reason on behalf of this is that proprioceptive information shapes spinal reflex responses as well as is at the root of postural maintenance. In Cerebrospinal Kinesiology (CSK) we have formed “an effective proprioceptive [rehabilitation] protocol emphasizing conditioning principles of strength as well as endurance” using the oscillating percussive device to deliver “proprioceptive enhancement by improving neuromuscular control as well as motor learning . . . as well as prevent injury by maintaining proper joint congruency (Gordon & Ghez, 1991).” Applying CSK percussive therapy or what I’ve dubbed Propriocussion at the spinal level facilitates dynamic joint stabilization as well as mediates movement patterns on behalf of improved neuromuscular control. The ultimate goal of CSK is to provide practitioners with a comprehensive rehabilitation program that is designed to return their patients to preinjury levels of activity by removing the mechanical instability as well as proprioceptive deficits that are commonly associated with injury to passive as well as dynamic structures. Clinically restoring proprioceptive mediated neuromuscular control at the end of joint injury or trauma is assessed as normalization of muscle tone, improvements in muscle strength, increased range of passive as well as active movements, functional joint stability, ‘normal’ coordination as well as balance, greater flexibility in the joints, more endurance as well as improved posture. Regaining cognitive neuromuscular control at the end of an injury is vital if one is to perform the movements required to execute safe, pain-free activities of daily living. Functional Blockages & Segmental Control The combination of propriocussion to muscles, ligaments as well as tendons in conjunction with specific Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation to functional blockages of spinal segments, restores joint mobility, normalizes muscle tone as well as opens the gate on behalf of the flow of correct proprioceptive information to the central nervous system. This results in restoration of normal recruitment patterns as well as improved mobility in the joints of the spine (Kozijavkin 2004). Functional blockages of the spine in cases of trauma or injury disturb the flow of proprioceptive information. “Most proprioceptive information travels to higher CNS levels through either the dorsal lateral tracts or the spinocerebellar tracts” (Riemann 2002). Functional blockages are not limited to a single joint of the spine, but rather they occur in several adjacent vertebrae resulting in polysegmental spinal blockages. “These blockages influence all of the organs of the human body which are innervated by the corresponding segments of the spinal cord” (Kozijavkin 2005). Functional blockages in articular structures cause the surrounding muscles, ligaments as well as tendons to spasm as well as become painful leading to reduced physical activity due to pain related ‘fear-avoidance’ behavior. Anticipation of pain evokes a protective modified motor control strategy that stiffens the spine by increasing the amount of coactivation leading to slow as well as jerky movements with decreased range of motion (Moseley 2004, Sjolander 2004). Paul Hodges (1996) has shown that an emotional state of fear causes “motor control deficits of the trunk muscles, in particular the transverse abdominus,” one of the inner core muscles (Chek, Lee). Muscle dysfunction arising from increased joint trauma as well as ligamentous injury can result in mechanically inefficient intersegmental motion with reflexive neural activation producing muscle spasms or muscle guarding. Patients with varying degrees of spasms, pain as well as onset of tissue stasis have muscles that are over-dominant as well as have lost normal mobility. Subsequently muscle atrophy as well as a predisposition to muscle inflammation occurs, which is exhibited by loss of muscle strength as well as shortening of the proximal as well as distal musculature. For example, patients with Whiplash Associative Disorder (WAD) have reduced proprioceptive function of muscle spindles in the neck as well as shoulder, which is likely responsible on behalf of the negative effect on precision as well as the upper extremity muscle weakness typically found in these patients (Sandlund, 2004). These patients require a procedural rehabilitative technique that enhances proprioception restoring pain-free joints, decreasing range of motion deficits as well as preventing progressive muscle atrophy by restoring joint mobility as well as relieving associated spasms as well as pain. Clinical findings indicate that Propriocussion following Cerebrospinal Kinesiology (CSK) protocol is an effective technique on behalf of reestablishing proprioception as well as thus neuromuscular control in the treatment of pain as well as neuromuscular disorders, including dysfunctional joints as well as subluxated spinal segments. It’s been shown that the application of propriocussion changes aberrant spinal loading patterns correcting the functional distortions associated with segmental dysfunction. By imparting percussive impulses lost mobility in spinal segments is restored. A rapid reduction in pain as well as improvement in function is often seen with its utilize as subjective function has been correlated with proprioceptive ability (Roberts 2004). The CSK rehabilitation program follows the advice of Lephart (1997) that “simple tasks such as balance training as well as joint repositioning should begin early in the rehabilitation program as well as become increasingly more difficult as the patient progresses.” Kozijavkin (2004) reiterates, “Rehabilitation can be enhanced significantly when proprioception is addressed as well as instituted early in the treatment program. This theme was also echoed throughout the Fourth International Congress on Low Back as well as Pelvic Pain (2001). Following the kinetic chain approach “correction of the spine is carried out consecutively in lumbar, thoracic as well as cervical regions.” The next focus of treatment is directed at the proximal structures. These consist of the large joints of the shoulder complex as well as pelvic girdle. “Creation of the higher as well as more distal fine motor functions of the hand, development of balance, as well as improvements in cognitive function is possible only at the end of the development of the previous, more proximal functions.”…“Gradually activation of the medium sized joints are added, as well as ultimately the small distal structures are treated” (Kozijavkin 2004). It has been observed that the number of muscle spindles is higher in proximal joints as well as decreases in the more distal joints. Muscles as well as joints that have a higher density of muscle spindles are more susceptible to aberrant changes in proprioceptive acuity. For instance, the deep muscles of the cervical spine have a very high density of spindles presenting a rational on behalf of treating from the core outward to proximal as well as than distal joints as suggested by Kozijavkin as well as others Mechanoreceptors – Muscle spindles Lephart (1997) states: “The concept of proprioception is based on the fact that neural feedback to the central nervous system (CNS) is mediated by cutaneous, muscle (e.g. muscle spindles), as well as joint mechanoreceptors.” Riemann (2002) indicates that the CNS determines proprioceptive input from populations of receptors, what he refers to as ensemble coding. Information from proprioceptive mechanoreceptors is essential, not only on behalf of the performance of all movements, but also on behalf of motor training as well as learning new movements. Evidence suggests that joint as well as muscle receptors are probably complimentary components of an intricate afferent system in which each receptor modifies the function of the other. However, muscle spindles are considered to be the an estimated all important mechanoreceptors on behalf of proprioception because of the fact that of the major role they play in the control of muscular movement by adjusting activity levels in the lower motor neurons (Lephart 1997). Fatigue, inflammation as well as an estimated all especially trauma causing injuries to receptor bearing structures, such as ligaments, tendons as well as muscles, give rise to pain that directly impacts muscle spindle activity. This impairs proprioceptive information, which alters motor control of the affected muscles as well as contralateral muscles as well (Sandlund 2004). By stimulating joint as well as muscle receptors percussive therapy encourages maximum afferent discharge to the respective CNS level. Nathan as well as Keller (1994), state “There is increasing evidence that the frequency, as well as velocity of applied force may also play a key role in the therapeutic benefit…since the mechanical response of biologic structures is known to depend on the rate of load application.” In Cerebrospinal Kinesiology (CSK) treatments the Propriocussor is used as a delivery device that produces a set frequency as well as velocity with a variable applied force that enables the operator to alter the rate of applied load. The Propriocussor utilizes a cam driven motor to produce a short lever, high velocity percussive force. The constant stimulation provided by the Propriocussor is very effective at reducing muscle spasms as well as at inducing motion into spinal segments as well as other articular complexes of the body influencing the muscle spindles to play their role in controlling muscular movements patterns. A continuous percussive stimulus produces mechanical deformation of joint as well as muscle proprioceptive afferents that amplifies the sensory signal. This is carried as proprioceptive information to the brain stem (basal ganglia as well as cerebellum) influencing posture as well as balance control as well as to the peripheral as well as central nervous system (CNS) on behalf of integration via spinal reflex pathways as well as cortical pathways. This in turn becomes efficient sensorimotor control that modulates muscle function as sensory information underlies the planning of all motor output (Lephart, Borsa). Lephart (1997) notes that ligaments provide neurological feedback that directly mediates reflex muscular stabilization about the joint. Solomonow (199 notes that while ligaments act as the major restraints on behalf of extremity joints it is now clear that spinal as well as abdominal muscles [especially the core muscles] are responsible on behalf of spinal stability. Research indicates that all spinal ligaments are equipped with proprioceptive mechanoreceptors of various types including fast adapting Pacinian as well as the slow adapting Golgi as well as Ruffini organs. Nociceptive nerve endings are also known to exist in the ligaments. These proprioceptive mechanoreceptors monitor strains, stresses as well as angles of different motion, reflexively initiating spinal as well as abdominal muscular activity that maintains the stability of the spine. The continuous stimulus provided by Propriocussion inhibits Pacinian corpuscles within milliseconds. While the Ruffini endings, Ruffini corpuscles, as well as Golgi tendon-like organs continue to discharge sending afferent impulses to the CNS via the cortical pathway. Stimulation of Golgi tendon receptors results in a reflex lengthening of muscles (Lephart 1997). While percussive deformation (propriocussion) of the supraspinous ligament, as well as feasable other spinal ligaments, recruits multifidus muscle force to stiffen one to three vertebral motion segments as well as improve functional joint stability (Solomonow 1998, Sjolander 2002). This occurs because of the fact that propriocussion activates the reflexive response mechanism that the body uses to increase muscle stiffness and, therefore, enhance joint stiffness on behalf of augmented joint stability at the end of an imposed joint trauma. As a result of propriocussive activation stiffer muscles transmit loads to muscle spindles more easily (Riemann 2002). The head/neck relationship (“primary control”) is a psychophysical process that manifests itself as muscular activity but is controlled by thought processes of wish or intention (Carrington as well as Carey 1992). Assessment shows a patient with “slow movements, reduced range of motion (ROM), poor balance, poor movement precision as well as deranged coordination” (Sjolander 2004). Sensory input from the neck mechanoreceptors, which are more numerous than in other muscles, as well as from the balance organs (semi-circular canals) work in tandem to provide information essential on behalf of the maintenance of human upright posture. Control of posture as well as movement is primarily affected by the state of neck muscles with their strong input to the brain. Reduced acuity of the proprioceptive information from the cervical region increases the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders, increases asymmetrical muscular co-activation as well as induces non-optimal postures. O’Sullivan (2001) adds, “individuals who habitually adopt passive postures on behalf of long periods, may de-activate as well as potentially de-condition the stabilizing muscles.” Propriocussion of the “stabilizing muscles with special emphasis on maintaining optimal postural alignment results in reduced pain as well as disability as well as enhanced motor control of these muscles” (O’Sullivan 2001). CSK PROCEDURE: Have the patient repeat left as well as right cervical rotation several times. “Patients with neck pain show more irregular movement patterns during cervical rotation exhibiting reduced smoothness of motion.” When we see altered motor performance exhibited by a patient this reflects deranged sensorimotor function (Sjolander 2004). Applications of Propriocussion alters electrical nerve impulses nearly immediately as well as have been found to be helpful to patients suffering from severely altered motor performance exhibited as chronic neck pain, especially those with instability on behalf of whom manual adjusting is clinically contraindicated. Postural sway can be significantly increased during “standing as well as walking in patients with neck pain” (Michaselson 2003). “Damage to joint proprioceptors at the end of injury to a ligamentous complex diminishes afferent feedback from the injured joint, thereby resulting in increased postural sway (Lephart 1997). This is based on the notion that when proprioceptive information is altered or impaired aberrant perturbations in planning occur as well as there's incorrect execution of motor commands (Sjolander submitted). Input to as well as from our legs gives us our an estimated all sensitive means of feeling postural sway. This in conjunction with stimulation of vestibular centers as well as visual input from the eyes activates the second level of motor control, located within the brainstem, which affects postural sway as well as balance control of the body. For example, when the weight of the head is pushed towards the right shoulder balance is predominantly sifted to the right side of the body (Wierzbicka 1998). When a cervical rotation is challenged by a decrease in proprioception, individuals often over recruit muscles in an attempt to stabilize (Anderson 2000). Consider how the reflexive pattern referred to by Frank Jones as the “Startle Pattern” applies to various traumas or injuries. In reaction to a sudden loud noise, [E.g. two car’s crashing into each other] the chin thrust forward as the neck muscles contract. The shoulders are lifted as well as the arms extended, the chest is flattened as well as the knees are flexed. The change, which is not instantaneous, begins in the head as well as neck, passing down the trunk as well as legs to be completed in about half a second (Jones 1976). In a car crash this startle pattern is infused with the alterations occurring from impact. The point here's that body parts do not operate in isolation. Here we can easily see how injuries that cause the chin to thrust forward, displaces the head backwards, contracts the necks muscles as well as reflexively shortens the back placing added weight as well as strain on the muscles as well as ligaments of the shoulders, arms, chest, knees as well as legs mainly because of the fact that of interference in the righting reflexes by abnormal pressure on the joints of the neck (McCullough 1996). Pain originating in the neck is known to disturb proprioceptive function of the limbs as well as the jaw. CSK PROCEDURE: Assess the anterior to posterior motion of each mastoid process of the temporal bone with its reciprocal contralateral greater sphenoid wing. When the mastoid/sphenoid complex is fixated it clearly indicates the presence of jaw clenching as well as possible grinding as well. Temporal bone fixation is also associated with deficits in the semi-circular canals negatively impacting balance. An internal temporal lesion impacts the brain stem altering major circuits that control postural equilibrium as well as numerous of the automatic as well as stereotyped movements of the body. The brain stem directly regulates as well as modulates motor activities based on the integration of sensory information from visual, vestibular, as well as proprioceptive sources (Riemann 2002). CSK employs procedures that stimulate reflex joint stabilization, which emanate from the spinal cord in conjunction with activities the patient performs that alter joint positioning necessitating reflex neuromuscular control. We further enhance motor function at the brainstem level by asking the patient to perform postural activities, both with as well as without visual input. CSK PROCEDURE: With the patient supine holding 2-5lb weights in each hand with their arms in a flexed position, request them to lift as well as hold their head off the table in flexion as well as apply downward resistance. With prolonged loading of the musculotendinous junction, the firing pattern, corresponding to the sustained muscle contraction, may become suppressed. If they’re not in a position to hold their head in this position against resistance the test is positive as well as indicates delayed firing of the deep cervical flexors, sternocleidomastoid as well as anterior scalene muscles. Delay in the activity of these neck muscles “indicates a significant deficit in the feed forward control of the cervical spine” (Sjolander 2004). A feedforward loop involving the spinal cord, brain stem as well as cerebral cortex evolves as well as a re-patterning of motor output results from aberrant proprioception (Cremonese, 1998). Lephart et al (1994) observed that individuals with chronic trauma or instability deal with significant deficits in proprioception. They suggested that proprioceptive deficits in, on behalf of example, a pathologic shoulder result in partial deafferentation as well as sensory deficits due to damage to capsuloligamentous structures. As a result of these deficits in proprioception, alterations in reflex activity as well as motor programs manifest as altered muscle-firing patterns (Myers 2002). This is demonstrated by alterations in joint motion, joint position sense as well as a loss of joint restraints. A damaged sensorimotor system won't automatically permit muscles to perform stabilization; they require to be rehabilitated (Simpson www.cdmsport.com). In the case of the shoulder Warner (1992) reports that the mechanism of muscle inhibition mainly affects the serratus anterior muscle. This was found in 100% of patients with subacromial impingement as well as in 64% of patients with glenohumeral instability. Methods that improve proprioception in patients with articular disorders can improve articular function as well as decrease the risk of reinjury. Thus it is efficacious to utilize percussive therapy (propriocussion) to remove proprioceptive deficits in unstable articular structures, as this appears to play an important role in restoring dynamic stability as well as in modulating muscle function. CSK PROCEDURE: A decrease of internal or external shoulder rotation, assessed through range of motion testing, indicates alterations in the neuromuscular firing patterns transmitted through the cortical pathway as exemplified by reduction in neuromuscular activation of the serratus anterior, pectoralis major, subscapularis as well as latissimus dorsi muscles. This indicates shoulder instability as well as altered joint kinematics. Proprioceptive Deficits in Joint Position Sense Proprioceptive deficits may contribute to the etiology of degenerative joint disease through pathologic wearing of a joint. Barrett as well as coworkers (1991) demonstrated a decline in proprioceptive driven joint position sense in patients with osteoarthritis. Skinner et al. (1984) further demonstrated decreased kinesthesia with increasing age. Thus when an elderly patient with pre-existing osteoarthritis experiences a physical trauma, such as a motor vehicle crash, their chances of sustaining injury is significantly magnified. It should be obvious that their increased age as well as the presence of osteoarthritis predisposes these patients to poor position sense as well as decreased joint motion prior to the collision, which can only be exacerbated in the presence of the force from even a low-impact motor vehicle crash. Propriocussion enhances joint position sense as well as central peripheral control by creating a bioelectrical signal that triggers an intense increase in normal flow of proprioceptive information. By removing proprioceptive deficits, restoring appropriate joint position sense as well as improving joint motion, we can surmise that applications of Propriocussion may arrest osteoarthritis. CSK PROCEDURE: With the patient supine, test the strength of the shoulder in flexion, extension, abduction as well as adduction. If they test strong have the patient place their short leg ankle over their long leg ankle – this induces gait – as well as retest. This often causes bilateral upper extremity muscle weakness indicating that the shoulder complex is not capable of bearing load as well as is recruiting back muscles to do the job. CSK PROCEDURE: With the patient supine, have them perform a straight leg raise to about 45 degrees as well as apply load while giving the command hold. If this muscle group tests strong have the patient to rotate their head as far as they can to the ipsilateral side as well as retest – this often causes that previously strong muscle test to now test weak indicating proprioceptive deficits interfering with motor control. Whenever muscles test weak their orchestration is out of phase – they are firing too late or not strongly sufficient when needed. Propriocussion as well as Nociception Over months as well as years, asymmetrical posture as well as spastic distortions can result in muscle imbalances that give rise to joint dysfunction. Kozijavkin (2005) states: “Increased muscle tone, pathological reflexes as well as movements patterns, as well as improper body position causes changes of the joints, shortening of the spastic muscles, tendons as well as ligaments, as well as abnormalities of blood circulation as well as metabolism.” Propriocussion intensifies reduction of spasticity as well as eliminates trigger points in the muscles with the added benefit of correcting autonomic disturbances. As agonist/antagonist muscle relationship change, the muscles on the left side may become shorter as well as stronger than those on the right. An aberrant proprioceptive pattern, corresponding to abnormal tonicity of both agonist as well as antagonist muscles evolves. Such a modification in proprioception seems to elicit postural changes that lower the nociceptive threshold as well as trigger a lingering pain response (Cremonese 1998, Norris 1993). Fuhr (1997) makes “a strong case that a decrease in mechanoreceptor input, as a result of the loss of mobility, can result in hyperirritable nociceptors response, resulting in certain pain syndromes.” Applying Melzack’s gate control theory, which simplified states: “An increase in sensory input shall block nociceptive pathways” we can see that a steady state percussive wave supplies the increased sensory input necessary to restore balance to muscle groups improving neuromuscular function as well as blocking nociceptive (pain) transmitting pathways (Cremonese, 1998). CSK PROCEDURE: Ever had a patient come into your office as well as say, “I don’t know what happened I just bent over to pick up a “pencil” as well as now I can’t straighten up as well as I’m having a lot of difficulty walking. Do you have any crutches? Have the patient “sit” down on your table (not lie down) as well as request them to bend forward dangling their arms between their legs. This activates the core stabilizer muscles, the transverse abdominals, the pelvic floor muscles, as well as the diaphragm. It is these core stabilizer muscles that are not firing milliseconds before the global muscles as they should as well as thus the patient has difficulty standing from a seated position as well as walking. Apply propriocussion to the spiral muscle group that Paul Chek calls the lateral system, e.g. the gluteus maximus as well as the contralateral quadratus lumborum. Also percuss directly over the sacrum as well as lumbar spine. Spiral Muscle Groups A cornerstone of Cerebrospinal Kinesiology Rehabilitation is to influence the performance of the spiral muscle groups using the principles of proprioceptive correction. CSK focuses on functional coordination of spiral muscle groups during movements by emphasizing concordant position as well as movement of the trunk as well as extremities. The spiral muscle groups develop concurrently with motor development as well as are important on behalf of compound movements. “Spiral muscle groups cross the body from one side to another as well as join the left as well as right side as well as the upper as well as lower part of the body. They ensure bilateral symmetry as well as proper posture of the body in the field of gravity; crossed coordination of the upper as well as lower extremities during locomotion (walking, running, jumping), as well as shock-absorption during movements. Spiral muscle groups support the spine, secure the head position during movements, support physiological spinal curves, take part in the movement of the thorax during respiration as well as provide a stable position of the body as well as extremities” (Kozijavkin 2005). Paul Chek refers to these spiral muscle groups as the deep longitudinal system, the posterior oblique system, the anterior oblique system as well as the lateral system stating that he adopted these concepts from Gracovetsky’s Spinal Engine (199 as well as Diane Lee’s The Pelvic Girdle (1999). Myers (1997) believes it is more accurate to view the body as a series of interrelated myofascial chains. In the case of injury or trauma pathological motor development is accompanied by functional distortion of existing spiral muscle groups as well as formation of pathological muscle chains. “The spirals of the human musculature are mirror images of each other. Designating the right side of the pelvis as a starting point, the muscle sheet of one of the spirals travels diagonally around the side of the torso, crossing over the front mid-section to wrap diagonally upward to the left side of the torso, where the road of muscle makes a “Y’, one avenue junctioning with the muscles of the left arm, the other avenue snaking its way diagonally across the back, continuing on its diagonal journey across the neck to hook onto the head behind the ear in its original hemisphere of the right side (Myers 1997). CSK PROCEDURE: With the patient supine have them perform an active straight leg raise (ASLR) as well as request them to hold as you apply resistance. In isolation this might test strong. However, as “upper extremity motion occurs with consistent synergistic muscle activation patterns in the legs as well as trunk” (McMullen 2000) request the patient to reach upward with both arms to the shoulder level as well as have them transfer them in an alternating pattern from inferior to superior. Retest the ASLR as well as it shall often become weak indicating delayed activation of leg as well as trunk muscles before activation of the anterior deltoid. McMullen (2000) describes the normal sequential pattern associated with right arm movement to include: “Deactivation of the left soleus, activation of the right tensor fascia lata as well as rectus femoris, activation of the left semitendinosis as well as gluteus maximus, as well as ultimately activation of the right erector spinae before initial deltoid activity.” Because muscles are like large “sheets” that form spirals around the human torso, the simple act of raising the arm can't be made without involving the muscles of low back as well as pelvis. The act of turning the head affects the musculature in the lower back; conversely, the muscular condition of the lower back affects cervical range of motion. Propriocussion supplies stable consistent sensory information that replaces inconsistent messages from damaged tissue. Propriocussion induces proprioceptive responses, which are “conveyed to all levels of the central nervous system, where it provides a unique sensory component to optimize motor control,” (Riemann 2002). The result of clinical experience indicates the inclusion of propriocussive treatments as part of a rehabilitative program help return patients to preinjury levels of activity following ligament as well as muscle injuries. REFERENCES Anderson, B.D. as well as Spector, A., Introduction to pilates-based rehabilitation. Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Clinics of North America 2000; 9 (3): 395-410. Barrett, D.S., A.G. Cobb, as well as G. Bentley. Joint proprioception in normal, osteoarthritic, as well as replaced knees. J. Bone Joint Surg. (Br.) 1991; 73B: 53-56. Barrett D S. Proprioception as well as function at the end of anterior cruciate reconstruction. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 1991; 73 (5): 833-7. Borsa PA. 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