Massage & Bodywork

March | April 2014

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I t p a y s t o b e A B M P C e r t i f i e d : w w w. a b m p . c o m / g o / c e r t i f i e d c e n t r a l 107 Manual and movement therapy blogs are abuzz touting the importance of thoracic spine (t-spine) mobility, as if it were a new discovery. But is it? Structural integration innovator Ida Rolf determined the effectiveness of her work could be enhanced by first freeing the rib cage, chest wall, and diaphragm. Similarly, another great educator, Philip Greenman, DO, dedicated two chapters in his textbook Principles of Manual Medicine to assessment and treatment of t-spine and rib cage mobility issues. 1 So why is this suddenly a hot topic? Simply put: kinetic chain awareness. Therapists are rediscovering how lack of movement in one area negatively affects function in adjoining tissues, and how the neuromyoskeletal system distributes abnormal tensions via kinetic chains (Image 1). Everything in the body is linked, says sports-movement guru Gray Cook: "You can't remove a major link from the chain without seriously impeding performance." Our joints, limbs, and muscles represent a collection of fascially bound structures designed to manipulate objects and propel us through three-dimensional space. Because all segments of the kinetic chain require differing degrees of mobility and stability, it is essential that we assess all major junctions independently. For instance, during gait evaluation, it's easy to visualize how lack of ankle mobility may affect knee function, or how an adhesive hip capsule could cause pelvic bowl compensations that destabilize a sacroiliac joint or the low back. However, confusion often arises when one observes the t-spine and rib cage. Although the t-spine has twice the rotational capacity of the lumbar spine, it is sometimes hard to imagine this sturdy-looking structure being very flexible. THE PROBLEM T-spine hypomobility has become so commonly accepted in our society that people rarely notice they have a problem. Nearly everyone slumps when sitting, and few perform the types of exercises that require a full range of spinal motion. Those who spend hours at computers sacrifice t-spine mobility for stability, as joint and ligament proprioceptors designed to inform the brain where it is in space become lazy. Conversation between body and brain grows difficult and unreliable. Eventually, coordination, balance, and movement become limited and painful. When you shoot a rubber band, it will be propelled a greater distance the farther back it is pulled. Similarly, the greater your myoskeletal mobility, the greater your range of motion, and the more tension (and therefore power) you'll be able to generate. This particularly applies to competitive athletes. technique MYOSKELETAL ALIGNMENT TECHNIQUES Finding the Weak Key Link Kinetic Chain Assessment By Erik Dalton 1 2 Immobile t-spine = Weak Key Link ©erikdalton.com Kyphotic t-spine leads to flattened lumbar lordosis, weakened diaphragm, and forward head posture. © Craig Liebenson from Dynamic Body It pays to be ABMP Certified certified member Are you an ABMP Professional, Supporting, or Student Member? Upgrade and begin enjoying these Certified benefits today! 800-458-2267 Treat your clients to four new albums of music from At Peace Media. To learn more, go to www.abmp.com/go/certifiedcentral Proudly display your membership with custom materials Learn and earn–oncology Ebook, with free CE hours From 10-25% OFF products you need: BodyworkMall, Custom Craftworks, Earthlite, Oakworks, 3B Scientific, Primal Pictures Top listing on Massagetherapy.com: where clients look for therapists every day

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