Part 1 - How Is Your Head Carriage?

A Human Being, as the name suggests is recognition of two components. The word
human originates from the word that humus is derived from. The human is the
‘dirt’, the ‘soil’ or the ‘clay’. The human is the physical or material
component. The Being is that which drives the human. It is the metaphysical, the
immaterial or unmeasurable part. Whilst many sciences have shied away from
acknowledging the being and its role in life expression, chiropractic has
included consideration and respect for this element in all that it does.

Over the next few issues of this newsletter we are going to visit the human
component. We will look especially at the dynamic relationship between structure
and function and the impact that any deviation from equilibrium has on the
function of a person.

If we take a minute to reflect on the human body as a mechanical structure we
soon see that due to the design of the spinal system there is an optimal way for
it to exist according to the laws of physics.

A basic anatomy lesson tells us that; from the front, the spine should be
straight with no sideways twists or bends (scoliosis). From the side we should
see four distinct front to back or back to front curves. The top curve is the
cervical spine and it should curve forwards approximating the letter ‘C’. The
next curve through the centre of the back is a long gentle curve going back.
This is followed in the lumbar spine with another curve similar to the cervical
spine going forward. Lastly, we see a series of bones comprising the sacrum and
coccyx, which curves back in the same way that the thoracic spine does.

When these curves are at their ideal they offer the best functional environment
for the spine and nerve system plus all the bones, extremities and organs that
hang off the spine.

When these curves are less than optimal it creates stress through the entire
system. Troyanovich et al. in a paper entitled “Structural rehabilitation of the
spine and posture: Rationale for treatment beyond resolution of symptoms”. JMPT
1998 stated that “For every inch (25mm) of anterior (forward) head carriage the
work required of the posterior cervical muscles is effectively increased by a
factor of 10”. Imagine the tax on the body by having the spine’s supportive
muscles working ten times harder just to stay upright? How is your head
carriage?

I would imagine that spending too long at the computer doesn`t do much for a good back. That`s probably what I need to watch as I tend to take up all sorts of positions which I`m sure doesn`t help.