Part 1 – Sugar, Stress and Sleep by Jason Anderson

 

Posture Article for Pilates Union – the Posture of Dorian Gray

By Jason Anderson, Managing Director Movement3

 Over the last ten years Posture has become one of the most talked about therapeutic phenomenon.

Everybody wants to know why their back hurts; why their knee rolls in; why one shoulder is lower than the other and more importantly how to make it all better?!

 This fascination with physical deterioration and asymmetry has subsequently led us to the assumption that this is purely a musculo-skeletal problem that can be solved with ‘physical’ solutions i.e. exercise, stretching, rehab, massage, orthotics etc…

 However, our bodies are a complex series of interwoven systems that all interact on levels, that if we are honest, we don’t fully understand.

 When studying and treating posture we can identify common patterns of presentation that cannot just be linked to a physical trigger i.e. clicking a mouse, carrying a handbag or driving a car.

 Is it too much of a leap of faith to then link these problems to the organs, the case in which they are protected (the skeleton) and the muscles that surround and stabilise this area?

 Q. Do we not experience cramping in the hamstrings when low on certain minerals?

Q. Do we not experience back pain at certain times of the menstrual cycle?

Q. Do we not experience low back pain and abdominal bloating with digestive irritation?

 This concept has been named the Visceral-somato (organ-muscle) response and has been thrown around Osteopathic and Chiropractic learning for many years.

 In order to grasp this concept a little better, let us take a look at one of the key segments of the body - the pelvis.

 The pelvis, along with the sacrum, forms the balance centre of the body and the foundation to the spine. It also houses some of the most important organs in terms of health – the sex organs and the digestive system. An imbalance in this key area has dramatic physical repercussions up and down the body.

 Now historically we have been under the impression that if the pelvis presents in an anterior position it is due to a shortening (and over activity) of the hip flexors and a subsequent weakening and lengthening of the hamstrings... and if we followed a program of stretching the hip flexors and strengthening the hamstrings all would fine and dandy!

 However... we could take a slightly different view point by saying that prolonged stress levels in the body has resulted in the client fatiguing their adrenal (stress / energy) glands, which intimately link with the Psoas muscles (via the kidneys). Coupled with inhibition of calcium absorption in the intestines and a reduction in Oestrogen (as a result of producing too much cortisol) resulting in acceleration of bone breakdown!

 This leads to a crumbling of the lumbar spine (degeneration), a buckling of the knees (as a result of Psoas weakness) and subsequent medial knee pain and over-pronation of the feet (often leading to plantar-fasciitis).

 Metaphorically this person’s energy is ‘down’ and they have trouble moving into their day (i.e. getting out of bed). They are depressed!

 Whatever way we look at this common situation..?

The only way we will be able to fully restore balance in this person is by utilising a combination of intelligent exercise prescription and lifestyle interventions (nutrition and perception).

 The harsh reality is that everything we subject ourselves to (environment, food, work etc.) creates a stress (stress = change) on the body and will subsequently, have an effect and consequence on our health and well being.

 So before we can ‘fix’ our posture we will really need to understand better the most intricate machine you will ever possess, and how our lifestyles affect our health and how dysfunction can manifest itself..?

 We need to get people to take responsibility for this wonderful piece of machinery and, as most behaviour is based upon reward and convenience, to invest some time and effort into looking after and understanding it better... Unfortunately most people know more about their Smartphone than their bodies!

 Only once balance is embraced… physically, emotionally and chemically... will health and vitality be restored!

 So if you’re still not quite getting the title…

 Dorian’s appearance remained pure and youthful, irrespective of his behaviour and indulgence, whilst only his portrait displayed the true extent of his physical and emotional decline.

 So you could say that our Posture, just like Dorian’s portrait, is a reflection of everything we have ever done… eaten … or thought!

 It is a reflection of our soul!