Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/867515
A B M P m e m b e r s e a r n F R E E C E a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / c e b y r e a d i n g M a s s a g e & B o d y w o r k m a g a z i n e 51 Just like the dorsal fin of a killer whale, human posture is supposed to have a distinct form. And, like an orca, in order to achieve and maintain that form, certain environmental stimuli must be present. In the absence of those stimuli, that form/ shape will be altered. As with killer whales, the causes for deviations in the natural human form are often predictable, as are the results or symptoms of those deviations, provided you know what to look for. FHP and text neck have become almost ubiquitous over the last 20–30 years. What was once only a problem for older people who had spent a lifetime reading and studying (it was once known as "Scholar's Neck") is now commonly seen in children. And like fin collapse or a wilting plant, the causes are all too apparent. Working with our clients to identify the cause of their issues is a critical part of achieving a successful outcome in the long term. Only when the cause or contributing factors have been identified can we work to reduce and/or eliminate them, or, at the very least, come up with strategies to minimize the impact they're having on the client's condition. As important as this process is, it is only one part of what bodyworkers do. We also have to be able to use our physical techniques to improve the client's health status to a level beyond what they are capable of doing on their own. To that end, it's up to us to understand exactly what's going on in the client's body when we see changes in the natural form like FHP, the same way a marine biologist has to have an idea of what's going on when they see an orca with its dorsal fin flopped over. Form provides all kinds of clues about function. Let's continue our look at FHP to illustrate this point. Form can tell us a lot about health, as in the case of "fin collapse," which is prevalent with whales in captivity (right), but extremely rare in orcas found in the wild (below).