Postural Alignment

Muscle imbalances

Muscle imbalances occur when a muscle or group of muscles are lacking strength and/ or lack flexibility, compared to their partner muscles or opposing muscles. This puts on undue stress on certain muscles, as a compensation occurs within the body. This results in some muscles contracting more than they normally should, causing them to over work. Other muscles are put into a prolonged state of overstretch. Both of these cause an unnatural pull on the skeletal system, that in turn affects the posture and joints of the body. The muscle imbalances also contribute to the formation of trigger points.

Autonomic nervous system

The muscle tension and tone of the body is ultimately affected by imbalances in the autonomic nervous system. Techniques that address these imbalances and stimulate the parasympathetic aspect of the autonomic nervous system has a profound healing effect on the body, normalising the muscle tone and positively addressing postural imbalances.

Trigger points

A sacromere is a microscopic unit in the muscle fibre where contraction normally occurs. To make even the smallest movement, millions of sacromeres have to contract in the muscles involved in the movement. A trigger point occurs when these sacromeres are overstimulated and afterwards unable to let go of their contracted state. This results in a reduction of blood flow and reduced oxygen to the area. Trigger points can be either latent or active. Active trigger points cause pain and discomfort and usually refer pain, so the trigger point is often in an area that is in a different location to where the pain is actually felt. They are the cause of much unnecessary discomfort and can be treated effectively. Trigger points contribute to muscle imbalances and in turn, muscle imbalances can create trigger points. For maximum flexibility and efficiency of movement and to address acute and chronic pain, it is imperative that trigger points be addressed in an exercise or therapeutic program.

Stress

Negative stress or is one of the main contributors to most diseases. Dr Hans Seyle defined stress as "The non-specific response of the body to any demand placed upon it." If the stress has a negative impact on an individual, it is termed distress. Whether a stress becomes a distress largely depends on the person's interpretation of the situation faced as well as other structural, environmental and chemical factors. Distress has a massive negative affect on the healthy functioning of the physical body, affecting the nervous, circulatory, digestive, immune and endocrine systems of the body. Distress can contribute to the formation of trigger points and cause muscle imbalances in the muscloskeletal system. A proper therapeutic program came hugely help reduce the negative impact of stress and improve a person's ability to cope more effectively.

Poor nutrition

Eating foods that the body has a sensitivity to and consuming artificial sweeteners, flavourings and additives that do not support the well-being of the body can cause: inflammatory responses, lowered energy levels, changing mood and ability to focus, weight gain, increased LDL-cholesterol and acidifying the tissue of the body. Inflammatory responses in the gut can contribute to back pain and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A sensible nutrition food plan can greatly help with the above symptoms.

Compression of the spine

The narrowing of the space between the vertebrae can cause pressure on the discs and spinal nerves, resulting in pain and discomfort. The excess pressure on the spinal discs between the vertebrae can result in a bulging disc and in more serious cases, a herniation of the disc. Much of the narrowing can be caused by the presence of muscle imbalances and trigger points that contribute to an unnatural pull and torsion of the spine, thereby reducing the space between the vertebrae. Spinal stenosis can be exasperated also by the presence of muscle imbalances and trigger points and addressing them can be an important part of the treatment of spinal stenosis. Some people use inversion therapy as a means to help reduce the compression of the spine and find it helpful. However, inversion therapy alone does not fix muscle imbalances and resolve trigger points, so anyone who is using inversion therapy with find great benefit in treating muscle imbalances and trigger points.

Misalignment of the spine and pelvis

Proper alignment of the spine and pelvisis crucial for optimum levels of health, well-being and performance. The body can not be free of pain long-term and function correctly if the posture is out of balance. Specific assessment procedures and corrective bodywork and exercises are fundamental to a pain-free, healthy body.

Unresolved past trauma

The connection of the mind and body is a key feature of many complementary approaches. Unresolved trauma can remain encoded in a part of the brain known as the Limbic System. The key area of the Limbic System where trauma is encoded is the Amygdala. These encoded emotional states can create physical pain in the body that can resist convential physical therapeutic approaches. There are specific modalities that can be effective in addressing these unresolved traumas.