Lateral Distortion to a Vertical Axis of Orientation
The Rightwards Lean and the Left Axis
The Rightwards Lean and the Left Axis
This Section looks at how bodies tend to distort and become imbalanced in the field of gravity. With everyone, we see many striking similarities in how our bodies bend, sway, and compensate while trying to stay upright. We have thus far in Theoretics 1 discussed spinal patterning and innate tendencies towards distortion in the skeletal system. Here we will expand our inquiry into how our bodies may laterally (to the side) distort with respect to a vertical gravitational line of orientation.
A random sample of client photos shows that commonly, there is more body mass rightwards of a vertical line through the pelvis.
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Above we have several random pictures taken of past clients with a vertical axis drawn through their respective pelvis'. On the vast majority - a rough sample, we see the upper thorax and bodymass deviating rightwards of that line. This is especially apparent in the upper body, shoulders and head.
With the human body, we see similar problems and patterns all the time, yet everyone is different. "Same-same but different" is a Thai expression well-suited here. One very common thing we may note in the human form is a right shoulder dipping relative to the left shoulder. We see it more often than not. However, It doesn’t happen all the time and to the right is an example of a scoliosis showing the opposite -- a left shoulder dipping relative to the right: |
In this scoliosis, the left shoulder dips relative to the right.
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However what remains consistent in this picture with the above collage is the tendency for there to be relatively more body mass to the right of the center vertical line, drawn through the middle of the sacrum. While many of the above collage pictures show bodymass shifting rightwards up near the shoulders, in the picture to the right it is instead occurring heavily at the lumbars and lower thoracic, with the upper thoracic struggling to compensate by shifting back leftwards.
What is the significance of this? Is this imbalance simply cosmetic, or is it possible that our imbalance to a center line in the field of gravity has an impact into the health and function of the human body far beyond what we may realize? The answer is likely, yes. And it is here that we will examine those likelihood's and the reasonings behind them, as well as the human body's natural tendency to distort in a widely similar way through a widely similar process. |
Body mass however is still shifted rightwards of a vertical line through the pelvis.
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Shifting Perspective
While there are many possible explanations for bodymass being concentrated rightwards of a center line, and while we could simply look at this as a “normal” asymmetry to a center line, we could also look at this as a distortion of the center line itself -- in other words, we are exploring the idea that a vertical axis/or center by which the body orients itself in the field of gravity has a tendency to be shifted leftwards in the body, and as it does so, the balance of distributed body mass around this axis is relatively greater toward the right side.
Why care?
Well, if the vertical axis has a normal or ‘innate’ tendency to shift in the human body, then the axis by which the human structure distorts is also shifted. As well as the points through which motion and vertebral rotation occurs may also change as vertebral bodies are become asymmetrically weighted. Asymmetrical weighting of vertebrae also compromises both range of movement as well as a balance of movement. Ultimately, asymmetrical weighting and movement patterns also accelerate the degeneration of disc space and compression of local neurology, upsetting and imbalancing function to the whole of the body.
The Plausibility of a Left-Side Pinch
The normal axis of rotation in a healthy, balanced vertebrae would be approximately centered:
While there are many possible explanations for bodymass being concentrated rightwards of a center line, and while we could simply look at this as a “normal” asymmetry to a center line, we could also look at this as a distortion of the center line itself -- in other words, we are exploring the idea that a vertical axis/or center by which the body orients itself in the field of gravity has a tendency to be shifted leftwards in the body, and as it does so, the balance of distributed body mass around this axis is relatively greater toward the right side.
Why care?
Well, if the vertical axis has a normal or ‘innate’ tendency to shift in the human body, then the axis by which the human structure distorts is also shifted. As well as the points through which motion and vertebral rotation occurs may also change as vertebral bodies are become asymmetrically weighted. Asymmetrical weighting of vertebrae also compromises both range of movement as well as a balance of movement. Ultimately, asymmetrical weighting and movement patterns also accelerate the degeneration of disc space and compression of local neurology, upsetting and imbalancing function to the whole of the body.
The Plausibility of a Left-Side Pinch
The normal axis of rotation in a healthy, balanced vertebrae would be approximately centered:
Should the vertical axis distort leftward, weight distribution through the joint would be altered and the mechanics of the joint will be interrupted. Movement would be both impaired and unbalanced. Disc degeneration will likely occur sooner with an accompanying loss of joint space on the more weighted side would follow.
For reference:
High pressures and asymmetrical stresses in the scoliotic disc:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17319969
For reference:
High pressures and asymmetrical stresses in the scoliotic disc:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17319969
Below, with a center axis of rotation, the right rotation of a smaller vertebrae above is uniform and balanced:
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As the axis changes, the movement changes. Below, a model of the same right rotation of the upper vertebrae with a change in vertebral weighting and the point of rotation, moving the axis leftward. A leftward shift of this point of rotation would cause a movement distortion of both vertebrae and an overall change in the ratio of compression of the respective neural roots at that level, especially in rotation.
As well as a distorted compression upon exiting nerve roots, an axis shift may also affect how the joint wears and whether the joint will wear in a balanced fashion. Primarily, this concerns the disc space between the two vertebrae and the compressive forces upon that disc, and whether or not those forces are balanced. The intervertebral space, compressed and weighted in distorted manner, and subject to a movement distortion, may well show an increase in disc wear that will be eventually reflected in available disc space. A lack of available disc space may also result in an increase of compression upon the exiting nerve roots at that level.
For reference:
The Association of Lumbar Curve Magnitude and Spinal Range of Motion in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5282845/
"The disc architecture changes depending on the convex or concave side of the curve, but nevertheless, high intervertebral disc hydrostatic pressures occur due to asymmetrical weight loading. Both disc and endplate physiology hence becomes abnormal. The definitive effect of intervertebral pressure change rate on the curve progression and degeneration is unknown but nevertheless these alterations hasten the degenerative processes in the IVDs. Losing its pliability, a negative feed-back loop occurs in the spine as disc degeneration further reduces the flexibility of the spine, and the increased spinal stiffness leads to further degeneration. The implications of disc degeneration in scoliosis include earlier development of back pain, poorer quality-of-life, self-image, self-care, physical disabilities and mood problems."
(emphasis added)
Central Nervous System Pinch
An axis shift may also create a heightened compressive effect upon the central nervous system (CNS), running through the spinal canal. Below is a model of a healthy rotation with a centered axis of rotation:
For reference:
The Association of Lumbar Curve Magnitude and Spinal Range of Motion in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5282845/
"The disc architecture changes depending on the convex or concave side of the curve, but nevertheless, high intervertebral disc hydrostatic pressures occur due to asymmetrical weight loading. Both disc and endplate physiology hence becomes abnormal. The definitive effect of intervertebral pressure change rate on the curve progression and degeneration is unknown but nevertheless these alterations hasten the degenerative processes in the IVDs. Losing its pliability, a negative feed-back loop occurs in the spine as disc degeneration further reduces the flexibility of the spine, and the increased spinal stiffness leads to further degeneration. The implications of disc degeneration in scoliosis include earlier development of back pain, poorer quality-of-life, self-image, self-care, physical disabilities and mood problems."
(emphasis added)
Central Nervous System Pinch
An axis shift may also create a heightened compressive effect upon the central nervous system (CNS), running through the spinal canal. Below is a model of a healthy rotation with a centered axis of rotation:
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With a leftwards shift in the vertical axis of rotation, we may see a change in the space available for the central nervous system as it runs through the spinal canal as well as an overall increase in the compressive forces upon the CNS as spinal movement occurs:
Were this pattern to repeat in variable degrees throughout the spine, arguably a leftward axis of rotation (and distortion) would create an overall greater degree of compression through the left side of the spine, arguably creating a greater overall degree of compression to the neurology on the left side of the body, and potentially impairing function to that side, relative to the right side. ‘Function’ would include physical strength, as well as balanced innervation to organs and other systems of the body.
As stated in Theoretics 1, the link between nerve compression and loss of muscle function is well-settled in modern medicine:
http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/peripheral-nervous-system-and-motor-unit-disorders/nerve-root-disorders
What isn’t generally considered however, is how the same nerve compression contributes to loss of function through other systems, such as organ, lymph and adrenal.
Is it plausible that an overall greater degree of neurological compression on the left side could contribute to and compound other health issues affecting the body?:
Left side strokes are more common than right:
http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/46/1/252
Skin cancer more frequently on the left side:
http://www.skincancer.org/publications/sun-and-skin-news/summer-2010-27-2/driving-linked
Breast Cancer more frequently on the left side:
https://www.oncolink.org/frequently-asked-questions/cancers/breast/laterality-of-breast-cancer-incidence
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/left-sided-cancer-blame-your-bed-and-tv/
However, left side tumors in colon cancer respond much better to treatment than right side:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/863537
With heart disease, the #1 killer, the organ in question, the heart, is located center-left.
Of the cancers, pancreatic is one of the most difficult to treat. Also located center-left.
In the brain, it is the left hemisphere that controls motor functions of the right side of the body. The brain often receives special treatment in modern medicine, and it should. However, no part of the body exists in isolation and theoretically, a pressure distortion within the lower neural system will also be reflected into the cranium and brain. Headaches and migraines typically include an aspect of pressure to the symptomatics. Hence an axis shift to the left and a subsequent neurological pinch on the left side of the body could have repercussions all the way into the cranium itself, both in terms of cranial pressure as well as in fluid movement/exchange and consistency.
Here, with Parkinson’s disease:
In a significantly higher proportion of patients, dopamine transporter binding was more severely reduced in the left compared with the right posterior putamen. This appears consistent with recent studies showing greater proportions of right-handed patients with Parkinson’s disease presenting with greater motor impairment of their right compared with their left-sided limbs (Uitti et al., 2005; Haaxma et al., 2010; Barrett et al., 2011). The cause of predominant left-sided striatal dopaminergic dysfunction in right-handed patients with Parkinson’s disease is not clear and hypotheses of inherently lower dopamine levels in the left compared with the right nigrostriatal pathway and/or a selective vulnerability of nigro-striatal dopamine projections towards pathogenetic mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s disease have been raised.
(The “putamen” is the outermost portion of the basal ganglia in the brain)
https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/135/11/3348/272188/Left-hemispheric-predominance-of-nigrostriatal
In summary, with Parkinson's disease, right handed patients (which are the bulk of patients), show problems on the left side of their brains, corresponding with a greater loss of motor function on the right side of their bodies.
Left side issues are generally more common in the human body, along with a structural lean which has the effect of pinching the left side neurology relatively more than the right. As we weave our way to a satisfactory conclusion regarding the apparent correlation, our next stop will be the overall right dominance of the human being.
As stated in Theoretics 1, the link between nerve compression and loss of muscle function is well-settled in modern medicine:
http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/peripheral-nervous-system-and-motor-unit-disorders/nerve-root-disorders
What isn’t generally considered however, is how the same nerve compression contributes to loss of function through other systems, such as organ, lymph and adrenal.
Is it plausible that an overall greater degree of neurological compression on the left side could contribute to and compound other health issues affecting the body?:
Left side strokes are more common than right:
http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/46/1/252
Skin cancer more frequently on the left side:
http://www.skincancer.org/publications/sun-and-skin-news/summer-2010-27-2/driving-linked
Breast Cancer more frequently on the left side:
https://www.oncolink.org/frequently-asked-questions/cancers/breast/laterality-of-breast-cancer-incidence
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/left-sided-cancer-blame-your-bed-and-tv/
However, left side tumors in colon cancer respond much better to treatment than right side:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/863537
With heart disease, the #1 killer, the organ in question, the heart, is located center-left.
Of the cancers, pancreatic is one of the most difficult to treat. Also located center-left.
In the brain, it is the left hemisphere that controls motor functions of the right side of the body. The brain often receives special treatment in modern medicine, and it should. However, no part of the body exists in isolation and theoretically, a pressure distortion within the lower neural system will also be reflected into the cranium and brain. Headaches and migraines typically include an aspect of pressure to the symptomatics. Hence an axis shift to the left and a subsequent neurological pinch on the left side of the body could have repercussions all the way into the cranium itself, both in terms of cranial pressure as well as in fluid movement/exchange and consistency.
Here, with Parkinson’s disease:
In a significantly higher proportion of patients, dopamine transporter binding was more severely reduced in the left compared with the right posterior putamen. This appears consistent with recent studies showing greater proportions of right-handed patients with Parkinson’s disease presenting with greater motor impairment of their right compared with their left-sided limbs (Uitti et al., 2005; Haaxma et al., 2010; Barrett et al., 2011). The cause of predominant left-sided striatal dopaminergic dysfunction in right-handed patients with Parkinson’s disease is not clear and hypotheses of inherently lower dopamine levels in the left compared with the right nigrostriatal pathway and/or a selective vulnerability of nigro-striatal dopamine projections towards pathogenetic mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s disease have been raised.
(The “putamen” is the outermost portion of the basal ganglia in the brain)
https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/135/11/3348/272188/Left-hemispheric-predominance-of-nigrostriatal
In summary, with Parkinson's disease, right handed patients (which are the bulk of patients), show problems on the left side of their brains, corresponding with a greater loss of motor function on the right side of their bodies.
Left side issues are generally more common in the human body, along with a structural lean which has the effect of pinching the left side neurology relatively more than the right. As we weave our way to a satisfactory conclusion regarding the apparent correlation, our next stop will be the overall right dominance of the human being.
Right Dominance and the Structural Connection
The human race exhibits an overall tendency to be right handed (70-90%). Right dominance, however is not found in other primates, including chimpanzees and gorillas.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-are-more-people-right/
As well, the vast majority of humans naturally kick with the right foot. In the process, the left leg and foot becomes the “plant” leg. When jumping off of one leg, such as a layup in basketball, most people find it much easier to jump off of the left leg. The right leg is thus the swing leg. The left is the base.
In relaxed posture, the left leg often becomes the weight bearing leg. In exercises such as one-legged squats or one-legged balancing exercises, most people have a vastly easier time with the left leg as opposed to the right. In snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing, the left leg is normally the lead leg (normal stance) and is where more weight is distributed. Right lead is called “goofy” and is normally harder and more uncommon.
In our "Left Axis" model, we may explain this phenomenon; as the center line of axis and orientation moves leftwards in the body, the right side swings relatively easier, with more torque. The left becomes a more stable base for rotation, a tendency also seen here:
The human race exhibits an overall tendency to be right handed (70-90%). Right dominance, however is not found in other primates, including chimpanzees and gorillas.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-are-more-people-right/
As well, the vast majority of humans naturally kick with the right foot. In the process, the left leg and foot becomes the “plant” leg. When jumping off of one leg, such as a layup in basketball, most people find it much easier to jump off of the left leg. The right leg is thus the swing leg. The left is the base.
In relaxed posture, the left leg often becomes the weight bearing leg. In exercises such as one-legged squats or one-legged balancing exercises, most people have a vastly easier time with the left leg as opposed to the right. In snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing, the left leg is normally the lead leg (normal stance) and is where more weight is distributed. Right lead is called “goofy” and is normally harder and more uncommon.
In our "Left Axis" model, we may explain this phenomenon; as the center line of axis and orientation moves leftwards in the body, the right side swings relatively easier, with more torque. The left becomes a more stable base for rotation, a tendency also seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPfvg28TMRE
In this clip from "People are Awesome", note the tendency in each activity to spin from the left foot or side. The left side is the axis by which the right side rotates. Observe the same in figure skating -- jump left, spin left, pretty much always, especially if difficult:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN_Mq8uIoA0
With this, we may note the tendency, not for a balanced rotation around a center axis, but an imbalanced and highly favored rotation around an axis that is rather slightly leftwards in the human body.
Structural Balance and Dominance
In practice and observation, the more balanced a body is, the less likely dominent tendencies will be apparent. In athletics, it is the most physically balanced athletes that are the more successful, rather than simply the largest or "strongest".
A good example is Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. Not only is he well balanced physically, but he actively trains in a fashion that is highly challenging to right-dominance. The result is an almost other-worldly performance:
http://video.sfgate.com/Stephen-Curry-and-the-Art-of-Dribbling-28411894
Musical pursuits, such as the drumset and piano, also reward a balanced physicality. The more balance in the body, the more ease in the playing. Energy otherwise given to strain can instead be focused on the performance. In all pursuits we may empirically conclude that a balanced physicality typically produces a functional balance as well.
A balanced physicality also equates to beauty. Beauty is not skin deep, it is spine-deep. You will be hard-pressed to find a beautiful star or starlet who does not also possess a highly functional and balanced spine. The two go hand in hand. Grace, balance, beauty, ease of movement. Indeed.
In this clip from "People are Awesome", note the tendency in each activity to spin from the left foot or side. The left side is the axis by which the right side rotates. Observe the same in figure skating -- jump left, spin left, pretty much always, especially if difficult:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN_Mq8uIoA0
With this, we may note the tendency, not for a balanced rotation around a center axis, but an imbalanced and highly favored rotation around an axis that is rather slightly leftwards in the human body.
Structural Balance and Dominance
In practice and observation, the more balanced a body is, the less likely dominent tendencies will be apparent. In athletics, it is the most physically balanced athletes that are the more successful, rather than simply the largest or "strongest".
A good example is Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. Not only is he well balanced physically, but he actively trains in a fashion that is highly challenging to right-dominance. The result is an almost other-worldly performance:
http://video.sfgate.com/Stephen-Curry-and-the-Art-of-Dribbling-28411894
Musical pursuits, such as the drumset and piano, also reward a balanced physicality. The more balance in the body, the more ease in the playing. Energy otherwise given to strain can instead be focused on the performance. In all pursuits we may empirically conclude that a balanced physicality typically produces a functional balance as well.
A balanced physicality also equates to beauty. Beauty is not skin deep, it is spine-deep. You will be hard-pressed to find a beautiful star or starlet who does not also possess a highly functional and balanced spine. The two go hand in hand. Grace, balance, beauty, ease of movement. Indeed.
The Evolutionary Link
Right dominance has long been the norm for the modern human. However, evidence suggests that the further we look in the past, the greater the right dominance we find in the human.
Research suggests that the neanderthal, with a more primitive spine, was heavily right dominant:
http://www.livescience.com/13951-neanderthals-hand-dominance-language.html
There are all sorts of theories as to why, including spear-throwing and over-zealously making clothes. This study theorizes that the bulky right arms of the neanderthals were due to over-usage.
http://www.history.com/news/big-neanderthal-arms-caused-by-making-clothes-study-suggests
But this convenient theory fails to explain why, as a species, it was always the right side and not the left that became dominant and enlarged. Surely, more usage on the right arm can and will 'bulk' up the right side relative to the left. But why was it always the right side? And why more so with the neanderthal than with the more modern cro-magnon ? Could there be a skeletal answer?
For that we can look to the more primitive and asymmetrical spine and structure of the neanderthal.
How would we describe the neanderthal structure...?
Hunched over, with a big right arm and dipping right shoulder. Hardly in harmony with the field of gravity.
Right dominance has long been the norm for the modern human. However, evidence suggests that the further we look in the past, the greater the right dominance we find in the human.
Research suggests that the neanderthal, with a more primitive spine, was heavily right dominant:
http://www.livescience.com/13951-neanderthals-hand-dominance-language.html
There are all sorts of theories as to why, including spear-throwing and over-zealously making clothes. This study theorizes that the bulky right arms of the neanderthals were due to over-usage.
http://www.history.com/news/big-neanderthal-arms-caused-by-making-clothes-study-suggests
But this convenient theory fails to explain why, as a species, it was always the right side and not the left that became dominant and enlarged. Surely, more usage on the right arm can and will 'bulk' up the right side relative to the left. But why was it always the right side? And why more so with the neanderthal than with the more modern cro-magnon ? Could there be a skeletal answer?
For that we can look to the more primitive and asymmetrical spine and structure of the neanderthal.
How would we describe the neanderthal structure...?
Hunched over, with a big right arm and dipping right shoulder. Hardly in harmony with the field of gravity.
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Would it be any surprise to find that the neanderthal had a heavy asymmetry to a vertical line? In this study, a natural lumbar kyphosis was found in neanderthal lumbar spines:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2525911/ A lumbar kyphosis/loss of lordosis generally results in a lack of balance to a vertical line in the sagittal plane (as seen from the side). Without a lumbar lordosis, the overall posture is hunched.
At right, a lack of a lumbar lordosis forces flexion at the hips and knees to approach balance to a vertical line. The picture came from a study from the International Journal of Spine. http://ijsonline.co.in/positive-sagittal-balance-and-management-strategies-in-adult-spinal-deformities/ Hence, from the side, we may well conclude that the neanderthal was more hunched than the average modern human. This would of course correlate with an expected evolutionary process from quadruped to fully, upright biped.
The next question is "was the neanderthal typically more lopsided as well?" Findings of relatively heavier right musculature would suggest that the asymmetry of the neanderthal applied to far more than just the sagittal plane. They would suggest that not only was the neanderthal more hunched than the modern human, but more lopsided as well. Taken as a whole, there is no question that the spine was more primitive and less balanced in comparison with the more modern cro magnon. And that is where things start to get even more interesting. |
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The Modern Neander
The neanderthal man, commonly thought to have gone extinct, lived largely in what is now Europe. DNA testing today however suggests that the neanderthal did not go extinct, but instead interbred with the European cro magnon population, at least to some degree. This conclusion seems much more plausible given man’s historically broad sexual appetites.
The percentage of Neanderthal DNA in modern humans is zero or close to zero in people from African populations, and is about 1 to 2 percent in people of European or Asian background.
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/dtcgenetictesting/neanderthaldna
The next question is whether a 1 to 2 percent genome difference makes a difference.
This study is titled, "Neanderthal DNA has subtle but significant impact on human traits"
https://phys.org/news/2016-02-neanderthal-dna-subtle-significant-impact.html
The study does not venture into skeletal skeletal issues, nor would be on their radar, but I would strongly suggest it should.
How much does 1 or 2 percent make a difference? Well, the genome difference between a human and a chimpanzee is 1.2%.
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/genetics
So, yes, a 1 or 2 percent neanderthal DNA influence on the modern human would certainly impact everything, including the skeletal structure. But we're not talking about all humans, mainly just the Europeans and their descendants. ie: the white people, where I would not that I see more spinal issues relative to people of non-European descent.
"Hybrid Vigor" or Heterosis, is the improved or increased function of any biological quality in a hybrid offspring. And in this case, hybrid vigor resulted in a group of people that have dominated the world for nearly 2000 years. Yet within this benefit remained the vestige of a more primitive form. Indeed, the ancient union of cro magnon and neanderthal created both a measure of hybrid vigor but also a measure of structural asymmetry in Europe as well as descendants of Europe.
I would note that is with people of European descent (caucasian) that I both observe and treat the bulk of significant spinal and structural issues.
From there we may further explore the functional fallout.
The neanderthal man, commonly thought to have gone extinct, lived largely in what is now Europe. DNA testing today however suggests that the neanderthal did not go extinct, but instead interbred with the European cro magnon population, at least to some degree. This conclusion seems much more plausible given man’s historically broad sexual appetites.
The percentage of Neanderthal DNA in modern humans is zero or close to zero in people from African populations, and is about 1 to 2 percent in people of European or Asian background.
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/dtcgenetictesting/neanderthaldna
The next question is whether a 1 to 2 percent genome difference makes a difference.
This study is titled, "Neanderthal DNA has subtle but significant impact on human traits"
https://phys.org/news/2016-02-neanderthal-dna-subtle-significant-impact.html
The study does not venture into skeletal skeletal issues, nor would be on their radar, but I would strongly suggest it should.
How much does 1 or 2 percent make a difference? Well, the genome difference between a human and a chimpanzee is 1.2%.
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/genetics
So, yes, a 1 or 2 percent neanderthal DNA influence on the modern human would certainly impact everything, including the skeletal structure. But we're not talking about all humans, mainly just the Europeans and their descendants. ie: the white people, where I would not that I see more spinal issues relative to people of non-European descent.
"Hybrid Vigor" or Heterosis, is the improved or increased function of any biological quality in a hybrid offspring. And in this case, hybrid vigor resulted in a group of people that have dominated the world for nearly 2000 years. Yet within this benefit remained the vestige of a more primitive form. Indeed, the ancient union of cro magnon and neanderthal created both a measure of hybrid vigor but also a measure of structural asymmetry in Europe as well as descendants of Europe.
I would note that is with people of European descent (caucasian) that I both observe and treat the bulk of significant spinal and structural issues.
From there we may further explore the functional fallout.
Lift
White men can’t jump?
While not globally true, it is a pretty common occurrence.
Generally for years we thought this might be a question of "fast twitch muscles vs. slow twitch", and we were assured that white folk just had more slow twitch and were good in the “long run”. Unfortunately, that theory came to a grinding halt with athletes of African descent crushing all the competition in marathons as well as in the sprints. Clearly, something else was at work...
LIFT and the Balance of Fluid Pressure
The human body is approximately 60% fluid and is essentially a system of pressurized, fluid-filled membranes.
Deane Juhan on the subject (repeated from Theoretics 1):
"In addition to supporting individual cells, tissues, and other organs, this connective (tissue) organ (fascia) serves an over-all structural purpose as well - it is woven together with the bones to create the movable frame which supports our posture and from which everything else is suspended. We normally think of the ligaments lacing around the joints, and perhaps the tendons which tie the muscles to the bones, as being the chief support that connective tissue offers the skeleton. But the situation is really much more complex than that; not only joint capsules and tendons, but literally all of connective tissues -- together with the fluids they contain – – aid the weight-bearing capabilities of the skeleton.
To see how this works, we can view the body as a large bag filled with water. If the surface and interior of this bag were perfectly uniform, like a filled balloon, then this bag would rest on the ground in the shape of a slightly flattened sphere. However, if we circle this sphere with cords and tighten them up, an interesting thing happens: The sphere is transformed into a cylinder, and can be made to stand erect. And if we continue adding chords, we can make the cylinder taller, thinner, and modify it into any number of shapes – – all without adding a single rigid member to the interior. Given a tough enough bag (and remember that connective tissue is VERY tough), we can keep lacing and squeezing until we have created enough hydrostatic pressure to make the cylinder quite rigid.
This is exactly the same kind of water pressure that holds a flower stem up straight, exactly the same kind of forces that erect a penis when it's corpus caver-nosum is distended with blood. At this point, our cylinder does not really need an internal skeleton in order to remain upright; in fact, a skeleton could even be suspended inside the cylinder from the top, without its toes touching the bottom, supported solely by the tension of the pressurized walls of the bag.
This of course is what the various shape-giving cords and bands of connective tissue do to our own bags of liquid, trussing them up into cylindrical shapes and squeezing them tightly enough to give them rigidity. When all the bands and cords are properly adjusted, and, the hydrostatic pressure is balanced, this tensional force goes a long way towards keeping us erect, and can give us that wonderfully light "skyhooked" sensation, as though our frames were suspended from the tops of our heads -- as, to a degree, they literally are."
Job's Body, 3rd Edition, Hydrostatic Pressure (Juhan, Deane; pg. 81)
Pascal's law or the principle of transmission of fluid-pressure is a principle in fluid mechanics that states that a pressure change occurring anywhere in a confined incompressible fluid is transmitted throughout the fluid such that the same change occurs everywhere. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal's_law
In the human body, Pascal’s law works with Newton’s 3rd Law to give us an understanding of how force and pressure dynamics translate into the ability to jump, and create a phenomenon in the human body known as “lift”. Lift as a term usually applies to things like airplane wings, but with hydrostatic (fluid) pressure, such as in a hydraulic 'lift', the effect is somewhat the same. It is all about pressure pushing UP.
To get the pressure in the human body to push UP, we require a rebound effect -- the force of gravity along with the weight of the human body pushing DOWN. And when we jump, we first create a force into the ground - a combination of body weight and gravity hitting the ground followed by a rebound effect coming back up and into our bodies.
Newton’s 3rd Law states:
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/Lesson-4/Newton-s-Third-Law
In this case, the force of the foot (or feet) hitting the ground creates what is called “ground reaction force”:
"In physics, and in particular in biomechanics, the ground reaction force (GRF) is the force exerted by the ground on a body in contact with it. The use of the word reaction derives from Newton's third law, which essentially states that if a force, called action, acts upon a body, then an equal and opposite force, called reaction, must act upon another body. The force exerted by the ground is conventionally referred to as the reaction, although, since the distinction between action and reaction is completely arbitrary, the expression ground action would be, in principle, equally acceptable."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_reaction_force
That ground reaction force from the foot and the weight of the body (+gravity) then travels back up through the body -- through a system of pressurized membranes in which the force and change in pressure is transmitted (Pascal’s law), to then create the phenomenon known as lift. This lift, combined with muscle action, makes the jump happen.
However, when a structure lacks balance, we may also find a person tending to be "ground bound". But why? Is it simply alignment? What else is at work? Accompanying an imbalanced structure are distortions in fluid pressure throughout the system. And while ground reaction force may travel through the whole, whether it is converted into lift and utilized is another question entirely. Our ability to utilize ground reaction force may largely be dictated by the balance of fluid pressures it is acting upon. With distortion in structure and fluid pressure, ground reaction force will likely be diffused and diluted, rather than focused, and lift will be lost. Jumping will be difficult.
So..., is there a possible structural aspect that contributes to the caveman’s inability to do a two-handed jam?
The more primitive spine with heavier tendencies towards structural distortion, asymmetry and dominance, will tend to display less lift. A balanced, more evolved structure in the field of gravity will tend to display more:
White men can’t jump?
While not globally true, it is a pretty common occurrence.
Generally for years we thought this might be a question of "fast twitch muscles vs. slow twitch", and we were assured that white folk just had more slow twitch and were good in the “long run”. Unfortunately, that theory came to a grinding halt with athletes of African descent crushing all the competition in marathons as well as in the sprints. Clearly, something else was at work...
LIFT and the Balance of Fluid Pressure
The human body is approximately 60% fluid and is essentially a system of pressurized, fluid-filled membranes.
Deane Juhan on the subject (repeated from Theoretics 1):
"In addition to supporting individual cells, tissues, and other organs, this connective (tissue) organ (fascia) serves an over-all structural purpose as well - it is woven together with the bones to create the movable frame which supports our posture and from which everything else is suspended. We normally think of the ligaments lacing around the joints, and perhaps the tendons which tie the muscles to the bones, as being the chief support that connective tissue offers the skeleton. But the situation is really much more complex than that; not only joint capsules and tendons, but literally all of connective tissues -- together with the fluids they contain – – aid the weight-bearing capabilities of the skeleton.
To see how this works, we can view the body as a large bag filled with water. If the surface and interior of this bag were perfectly uniform, like a filled balloon, then this bag would rest on the ground in the shape of a slightly flattened sphere. However, if we circle this sphere with cords and tighten them up, an interesting thing happens: The sphere is transformed into a cylinder, and can be made to stand erect. And if we continue adding chords, we can make the cylinder taller, thinner, and modify it into any number of shapes – – all without adding a single rigid member to the interior. Given a tough enough bag (and remember that connective tissue is VERY tough), we can keep lacing and squeezing until we have created enough hydrostatic pressure to make the cylinder quite rigid.
This is exactly the same kind of water pressure that holds a flower stem up straight, exactly the same kind of forces that erect a penis when it's corpus caver-nosum is distended with blood. At this point, our cylinder does not really need an internal skeleton in order to remain upright; in fact, a skeleton could even be suspended inside the cylinder from the top, without its toes touching the bottom, supported solely by the tension of the pressurized walls of the bag.
This of course is what the various shape-giving cords and bands of connective tissue do to our own bags of liquid, trussing them up into cylindrical shapes and squeezing them tightly enough to give them rigidity. When all the bands and cords are properly adjusted, and, the hydrostatic pressure is balanced, this tensional force goes a long way towards keeping us erect, and can give us that wonderfully light "skyhooked" sensation, as though our frames were suspended from the tops of our heads -- as, to a degree, they literally are."
Job's Body, 3rd Edition, Hydrostatic Pressure (Juhan, Deane; pg. 81)
Pascal's law or the principle of transmission of fluid-pressure is a principle in fluid mechanics that states that a pressure change occurring anywhere in a confined incompressible fluid is transmitted throughout the fluid such that the same change occurs everywhere. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal's_law
In the human body, Pascal’s law works with Newton’s 3rd Law to give us an understanding of how force and pressure dynamics translate into the ability to jump, and create a phenomenon in the human body known as “lift”. Lift as a term usually applies to things like airplane wings, but with hydrostatic (fluid) pressure, such as in a hydraulic 'lift', the effect is somewhat the same. It is all about pressure pushing UP.
To get the pressure in the human body to push UP, we require a rebound effect -- the force of gravity along with the weight of the human body pushing DOWN. And when we jump, we first create a force into the ground - a combination of body weight and gravity hitting the ground followed by a rebound effect coming back up and into our bodies.
Newton’s 3rd Law states:
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/Lesson-4/Newton-s-Third-Law
In this case, the force of the foot (or feet) hitting the ground creates what is called “ground reaction force”:
"In physics, and in particular in biomechanics, the ground reaction force (GRF) is the force exerted by the ground on a body in contact with it. The use of the word reaction derives from Newton's third law, which essentially states that if a force, called action, acts upon a body, then an equal and opposite force, called reaction, must act upon another body. The force exerted by the ground is conventionally referred to as the reaction, although, since the distinction between action and reaction is completely arbitrary, the expression ground action would be, in principle, equally acceptable."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_reaction_force
That ground reaction force from the foot and the weight of the body (+gravity) then travels back up through the body -- through a system of pressurized membranes in which the force and change in pressure is transmitted (Pascal’s law), to then create the phenomenon known as lift. This lift, combined with muscle action, makes the jump happen.
However, when a structure lacks balance, we may also find a person tending to be "ground bound". But why? Is it simply alignment? What else is at work? Accompanying an imbalanced structure are distortions in fluid pressure throughout the system. And while ground reaction force may travel through the whole, whether it is converted into lift and utilized is another question entirely. Our ability to utilize ground reaction force may largely be dictated by the balance of fluid pressures it is acting upon. With distortion in structure and fluid pressure, ground reaction force will likely be diffused and diluted, rather than focused, and lift will be lost. Jumping will be difficult.
So..., is there a possible structural aspect that contributes to the caveman’s inability to do a two-handed jam?
The more primitive spine with heavier tendencies towards structural distortion, asymmetry and dominance, will tend to display less lift. A balanced, more evolved structure in the field of gravity will tend to display more:
bOUncy
not bouncy
Structural Distortion and The Systemic Balance of Fluid Pressure
Systemic balance of fluid pressure within the human body requires a balance of many, many differing parts, each with their own relative fluid pressures. Our organ system:
Systemic balance of fluid pressure within the human body requires a balance of many, many differing parts, each with their own relative fluid pressures. Our organ system:
The organ system is, by it’s own nature, asymmetrical. This creates a challenging scenario for systemic (whole body) pressure balance. Internal pressure balance is a basic function of homeostasis, as discussed in Theoretics 1. Systemic pressure balance through the whole of the organ system thus requires a balance of many differing parts. Hence the body already faces a complex task in establishing a normal systemic pressure balance. But, as complex and intricate as the process normally is, as the human body distorts in the field of gravity, the process gets even more complex -- our connective tissues and fascial membranes also distort, upsetting the normal balance of fluid pressure within. The body's compensatory processes kick in.
This distortion of pressure may be additionally complicated and furthered by the compression of the nervous system that occurs as the structure distorts. Compression of neural space affects the relative fluid pressures within the governing nervous system. As expected, where compression is full or extreme, such as in paralysis, the formerly-innervated limbs not only atrophy, but also show marked deficiencies in fluid pressure. A similar attribute is noted in the elderly. Tissue that borders on saggy and loose is the norm. Structurally, the elderly generally show an overall lack of structural space as well as marked restrictions in spinal movement. Neural compression is extensive and comprehensive (everywhere). Hence, there is a likely correlation between fluid pressure distortion in the governing neural system and fluid pressure distortion in the rest of the body.
But while we can see how a distorted structure would result in a loss of lift, this still doesn’t answer the question of how a vertical axis in the body might shift to the left and seriously complicate and worsen the whole situation.
The Left Axis
Here we are proposing that a contributory or causative factor in the leftward shift of a vertical axis is a difference in systemic hydrostatic pressure throughout the left side of the body relative to the right:
This distortion of pressure may be additionally complicated and furthered by the compression of the nervous system that occurs as the structure distorts. Compression of neural space affects the relative fluid pressures within the governing nervous system. As expected, where compression is full or extreme, such as in paralysis, the formerly-innervated limbs not only atrophy, but also show marked deficiencies in fluid pressure. A similar attribute is noted in the elderly. Tissue that borders on saggy and loose is the norm. Structurally, the elderly generally show an overall lack of structural space as well as marked restrictions in spinal movement. Neural compression is extensive and comprehensive (everywhere). Hence, there is a likely correlation between fluid pressure distortion in the governing neural system and fluid pressure distortion in the rest of the body.
But while we can see how a distorted structure would result in a loss of lift, this still doesn’t answer the question of how a vertical axis in the body might shift to the left and seriously complicate and worsen the whole situation.
The Left Axis
Here we are proposing that a contributory or causative factor in the leftward shift of a vertical axis is a difference in systemic hydrostatic pressure throughout the left side of the body relative to the right:
There are a couple of different ways of looking at this possibility. We may think of this as a “spike” or increase in hydrostatic pressure through the left side. Or another, more plausible perspective is that, rather than the left side gaining in pressure, it is a question of the right side losing pressure, relative to the left side. In other words, it’s not that there is more pressure on the left, its just that there is less on the right. This creates an apparent "uphill side" (the left) and a "down-hill side",(the right).
But why less on the right?
Ida Rolf, the founder of Rolf Structural Integration made this observation:
Most random bodies show a pelvis tipped forward. The contents are then restrained only by the superficial muscles and skin of the abdomen instead of being “contained” by the basin.
Most people know that the proportions of male and female pelves differ. This does not alter the fact that certain functions are shared. Both serve as containers and, through the sacrolumbar junction, form a mechanical bearing on which the upper body balances. In its role as basin, the pelvis contains the abdominal viscera. this offers a clue as to how it must be balanced in space to perform effectively. In a random body, the abdominal contents too often are held up merely by the muscles and skin of the anterior abdominal wall. If the (pelvis) deviates too widely from the horizontal, obviously the contained pelvic contents will spill. In a tipped pelvis, viscera may be restrained by the abdominal wall, but they cannot be housed snugly within the basin.
Rolfing: The integration of Human Structures, pp. 86-87 (Ida Rolf, Ph.D.)
Ida goes on to explore how pelvic tilt relates directly to the position of the lumbar spine. Which it certainly does. However, what also happens when the pelvis tilts and distorts, and the abdomen pushes outward, is that the abdomen, its contents and the hydrostatic pressure within, are no longer pushing upward -- resulting in a substantial reduction in how much fluid pressure is pushing UP. This results in an overall loss of systemic fluid pressure and an overall loss of structural support.
But why less on the right?
Ida Rolf, the founder of Rolf Structural Integration made this observation:
Most random bodies show a pelvis tipped forward. The contents are then restrained only by the superficial muscles and skin of the abdomen instead of being “contained” by the basin.
Most people know that the proportions of male and female pelves differ. This does not alter the fact that certain functions are shared. Both serve as containers and, through the sacrolumbar junction, form a mechanical bearing on which the upper body balances. In its role as basin, the pelvis contains the abdominal viscera. this offers a clue as to how it must be balanced in space to perform effectively. In a random body, the abdominal contents too often are held up merely by the muscles and skin of the anterior abdominal wall. If the (pelvis) deviates too widely from the horizontal, obviously the contained pelvic contents will spill. In a tipped pelvis, viscera may be restrained by the abdominal wall, but they cannot be housed snugly within the basin.
Rolfing: The integration of Human Structures, pp. 86-87 (Ida Rolf, Ph.D.)
Ida goes on to explore how pelvic tilt relates directly to the position of the lumbar spine. Which it certainly does. However, what also happens when the pelvis tilts and distorts, and the abdomen pushes outward, is that the abdomen, its contents and the hydrostatic pressure within, are no longer pushing upward -- resulting in a substantial reduction in how much fluid pressure is pushing UP. This results in an overall loss of systemic fluid pressure and an overall loss of structural support.
As the pelvis and spine change through unwinding, pressure is redirected, providing support in the body.
If internal pressure in the abdomen has a tendency to push out rather than up, the next question becomes: is there an innate tendency in the human body for the pelvis to spill or distort more in one particular direction than another? Certainly it appears forward, but what about left or right?
And this takes us back up a bit to what Ida said about the sacrolumbar junction (L5/S1); it has “a mechanical bearing on which the upper body balances”. To which I would add, it also has great mechanical bearing on what particular direction the pelvis typically tips, and the normal direction in which systemic hydrostatic pressure is lost.
The Bowl Typically Spills Right
Before we get to the nitty gritty of why it tends to tip forward and right, we will briefly revisit the subject of right dominance, and the question of why right dominance is so prevalent in the human, but not in other primates such as gorillas and chimpanzees. To attempt the answer to this question, I will first note that humans, among primates, are the only true bipeds.
Verticality in the field of gravity grants many benefits, but also many challenges in adaptation. Strengths and weaknesses,...and strengths that are also weaknesses. The biped structure is remarkably adaptable and yet remains relatively unstable in the field of gravity (2 legs of support vs. the quadruped 4). This relative instability gives rise to some particular vulnerabilities within the biped structure. For the non-biped there is considerably less risk of the pelvic bowl distorting or tipping. It is already tipped relative to gravity. There is no lordotic curve in the spine. And with four legs of support, there is no obvious vulnerability at play. It is only in the evolutionary change to biped and vertical, and from four legs of support to two, that the pelvis adopts an innate tendency to tip forward, (or retains a vestige of its former position).
But along with the tendency for the pelvis to tip forward also comes a tendency to tip towards a particular side. And that side tends to be the right.
As it tips towards the right, fluid pressure and support is lost at pelvic level and the vertical axis of orientation, rotation, and distortion drifts towards the left side of the body. Neurology, on the left side of the body is pinched. A tendency for right dominance follows.
Why right?
L5 and the Sacro-Lumbar Junction
Ida Rolf called the “sacrolumbar junction”, the mechanical bearing upon which the upper body balanced. This “junction” is essentially the joint between L5 and the sacrum (S1).
And this takes us back up a bit to what Ida said about the sacrolumbar junction (L5/S1); it has “a mechanical bearing on which the upper body balances”. To which I would add, it also has great mechanical bearing on what particular direction the pelvis typically tips, and the normal direction in which systemic hydrostatic pressure is lost.
The Bowl Typically Spills Right
Before we get to the nitty gritty of why it tends to tip forward and right, we will briefly revisit the subject of right dominance, and the question of why right dominance is so prevalent in the human, but not in other primates such as gorillas and chimpanzees. To attempt the answer to this question, I will first note that humans, among primates, are the only true bipeds.
Verticality in the field of gravity grants many benefits, but also many challenges in adaptation. Strengths and weaknesses,...and strengths that are also weaknesses. The biped structure is remarkably adaptable and yet remains relatively unstable in the field of gravity (2 legs of support vs. the quadruped 4). This relative instability gives rise to some particular vulnerabilities within the biped structure. For the non-biped there is considerably less risk of the pelvic bowl distorting or tipping. It is already tipped relative to gravity. There is no lordotic curve in the spine. And with four legs of support, there is no obvious vulnerability at play. It is only in the evolutionary change to biped and vertical, and from four legs of support to two, that the pelvis adopts an innate tendency to tip forward, (or retains a vestige of its former position).
But along with the tendency for the pelvis to tip forward also comes a tendency to tip towards a particular side. And that side tends to be the right.
As it tips towards the right, fluid pressure and support is lost at pelvic level and the vertical axis of orientation, rotation, and distortion drifts towards the left side of the body. Neurology, on the left side of the body is pinched. A tendency for right dominance follows.
Why right?
L5 and the Sacro-Lumbar Junction
Ida Rolf called the “sacrolumbar junction”, the mechanical bearing upon which the upper body balanced. This “junction” is essentially the joint between L5 and the sacrum (S1).
At the top of the sacrolumbar junction is L5, and with it, a particular tendency to slip forward:
L5’s tendency to slip/shift forward is largely dictated by it's position in the spine with respect to gravity. It is essentially located upon a downward slope.
As L5 shifts down, the innervation running through the joint space is compressed at both the CNS (the spinal canal) and at the exiting nerve roots (between the vertebrae), resulting in a distortion of fluid pressure and movement at the base of the central nervous system. Squeezing the CNS here means squeezing off Cerebrospinal Fluild (CSF) flow to and from the sacrum and the "cauda equina" - a bundle of nerves located in the lumbar cistern.
As L5 shifts down, the innervation running through the joint space is compressed at both the CNS (the spinal canal) and at the exiting nerve roots (between the vertebrae), resulting in a distortion of fluid pressure and movement at the base of the central nervous system. Squeezing the CNS here means squeezing off Cerebrospinal Fluild (CSF) flow to and from the sacrum and the "cauda equina" - a bundle of nerves located in the lumbar cistern.
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To tip the pelvis forward, L5 has a measure of mechanical advantage and influence on the pelvic bowl due to it’s position at the top of the pelvis, and bound through a number of significant ligaments. Thus, as L5 slides forward in the body, it has a tendency to take the pelvic bowl with it and into a forward tilt.
But while L5 slipping forward is routine, L5 rotating and shifting to the right side is also fairly common as well. Palpation of L5 often finds it to be in right rotation with respect to S1 and L4. This relative rotation to S1 and L4 should not be confused with an overall group pattern of spinal rotation. In the lumbars, the normal group pattern of rotation (multiple vertebrae) is to the left. However, the typical L5, while often rotating left within a larger group pattern, may also rotate right respective to L4 and S1. More importantly, the combination of a forward shift and a right rotational tendency may also allow L5 to shift rightwards as well. Thus two shifts may present themselves in the average body -a forwards and rightwards shift of L5. Coupled with its mechanical advantage on the pelvis, the shifts at L5 may then tilt the top of the pelvic bowl and with it, the bottom of the abdominal cavity. As the pelvic bowl tilts, the fluid contents within are displaced, resulting in an overall loss of hydrostatic pressure through the abdominal cavity and up the right side. |
As the pelvis tilts both forwards and rightwards, there is an overall loss of hydrostatic pressure through the right side.
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The T12 Area
The Second Vulnerability
Along with problems at L5, we'll also see a loss of hydrostatic pressure through the right side as the result of a second common distortion. In this case the distortion is of a rotational variety and tends to occur at the lower thoracic area, around T12. It is here that we commonly see a group right rotation in the vertebrae from L3 up to T6. In other words, several vertebrae all tend to rotate rightwards in the region around T12.
The Second Vulnerability
Along with problems at L5, we'll also see a loss of hydrostatic pressure through the right side as the result of a second common distortion. In this case the distortion is of a rotational variety and tends to occur at the lower thoracic area, around T12. It is here that we commonly see a group right rotation in the vertebrae from L3 up to T6. In other words, several vertebrae all tend to rotate rightwards in the region around T12.
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Often we see this rightwards group rotation occurring in between two leftward group rotations, one at the pelvis and lower lumbar, and a second at the shoulder level. This is a common pattern in scoliosis and also overall in the human form. The T12 area also tends to be vulnerable to both distortion and extremes in distortion. There are many reasons why this is so and those reasons are well-scrutinized in both Theoretics 1 and again in Methodology 2. Suffice to say, when things go rightwards at T12, they tend to really go right.
As well, the rightwards group rotation is most often coupled with a posterior shift of the vertebrae at that level -- i.e.: a general back shift of the lower thoracic vertebrae that results in a greater kyphotic curve (the "hunch"). The vertebral back-shift and right rotation then combine to add an element of a lateral right shift (i.e.: to the side), which takes the entire thoracic cavity above with it. The result is a rightwards lean of the overall structure and a loss of support below the right side of the thoracic. The shoulders, upper thoracic, neck and head, are then left to attempt to compensate to the lack of support and asymmetry to a center line. |
A large rightwards group rotation at the lower thoracic results in a loss of fluid pressure support from below.
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The Balancing Pinch
A very important question remains. Does the neurology on the left side pinch and compress more than the right side in part to balance the loss of systemic pressure on the right side? It would certainly appear so. A loss of fluid pressure within a system must unfortunately be balanced by a reduction of fluid pressure elsewhere within that system.
A very important question remains. Does the neurology on the left side pinch and compress more than the right side in part to balance the loss of systemic pressure on the right side? It would certainly appear so. A loss of fluid pressure within a system must unfortunately be balanced by a reduction of fluid pressure elsewhere within that system.
Practical Application
This subject is extensive. While practical application herein is generally very particular to each and every rib and vertebrae, an overall and general soft-tissue strategy to open tissue moreso on the anterior and left side of the body may be well served; opening body mass leftwards while coaxing a vertical axis rightwards and back towards the center.
This doesn't mean 'don't work on the right side'. It however means; be far more balanced than the industry standards in massage. Work with your client supine. Work side-lying. Pay attention to the left side even if the right side is the more symptomatic.
I would also add that more commonly than not, the thoracic spine tends to distort and shift back and rightwards around T12-T10. This spinal shift with a rightwards lateral component is commonly manifested and seen at the bottom of the left anterior chest/bra line (T10 is located approximately behind Ribs 6 and 7), with a large indentation often to be found there. When you can visibly note and palpate vertebrae and ribs pushing back and rightwards in this area, you may want to use heightened caution when working on the posterior, right-side tissue, especially around T12-T10 and Ribs T12-10.
The shifts at T12-10 are often quite controlling on the rest of the thorax, requiring compensatory shifts through the vertebrae and ribcage. Ultimately, the pattern becomes fixated in the body, quite often in both armpits (Ribs 2-4) and under the scapulas. These are some of the hardest places to get to, but also some of the most important. Practical application is covered in greater detail in the sections that follow.
This subject is extensive. While practical application herein is generally very particular to each and every rib and vertebrae, an overall and general soft-tissue strategy to open tissue moreso on the anterior and left side of the body may be well served; opening body mass leftwards while coaxing a vertical axis rightwards and back towards the center.
This doesn't mean 'don't work on the right side'. It however means; be far more balanced than the industry standards in massage. Work with your client supine. Work side-lying. Pay attention to the left side even if the right side is the more symptomatic.
I would also add that more commonly than not, the thoracic spine tends to distort and shift back and rightwards around T12-T10. This spinal shift with a rightwards lateral component is commonly manifested and seen at the bottom of the left anterior chest/bra line (T10 is located approximately behind Ribs 6 and 7), with a large indentation often to be found there. When you can visibly note and palpate vertebrae and ribs pushing back and rightwards in this area, you may want to use heightened caution when working on the posterior, right-side tissue, especially around T12-T10 and Ribs T12-10.
The shifts at T12-10 are often quite controlling on the rest of the thorax, requiring compensatory shifts through the vertebrae and ribcage. Ultimately, the pattern becomes fixated in the body, quite often in both armpits (Ribs 2-4) and under the scapulas. These are some of the hardest places to get to, but also some of the most important. Practical application is covered in greater detail in the sections that follow.