Posture Assessment
by admin on December 30, 2009
As stated in ‘Muscle Testing and Function- Provance, Kendall and McCreary’…
quote… ‘Evaluating and treating postural problems requires an understanding of basic principles relating to alignment, joint, and muscles………..Faulty alignment results in undue stress and strain on bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles….’ unquote.
This one factor is where many of my clients’ aches and pains come from. It is the very first thing I check when a new client comes to me in pain. And sadly it is often overlooked by therapists and GP’s alike.
Muscles are designed to contract. They have no other function. When a muscle (Bi-ceps Brachii) causes a motion, like bending the arm at the elbow, there is a muscle on the back of the upper arm (Tri-ceps Brachii) that opposes that motion. When these two muscles are in balance then the movement is smooth and the elbow joint is pain free. When they are not in balance the movement is not efficient and often pain will be present.
This basic principle applies to every joint and every muscle in the body. T study posture fully requires time and effort but here are some basic things to look for with a client.
Is one hip higher than the other?
Is the hip tilted anteriorly?
Is the hip tilted posteriorly?
Is one foot positioned more forward than the other when the client is standing at rest?
Is one shoulder higher than the other?
Is the Scapular ‘tipping, winging or protracted?
Is the Scapular rhythm ‘early, regular or late’?
All these visual guides and many many more will give the therapist clues as to which muscles are short and tight and which muscles are weak and being over stretched.
Short and tight muscles and weak and over stretched muscles all need attention but in different ways. One lot need massaging while the other needs to be strengthened through specific exercise regimes. It is important for the therapist to get it right,. Strengthening the wrong muscle or muscle group will add the client’s problems and pain. Getting it right will bring welcome pain relief and great Range of Motion to the client’s joints. This will ease muscle tension and restore balance and wellbing to their musculo-skeletal system.
Understanding the principles of posture and how to identify the key indicators will be a valuable tool for any therapist and will bring pain relief and a better quality of life for the suffering client. Massage Works.
Yours in health
Victor Solomon
As stated in ‘Muscle Testing and Function- Provance, Kendall and McCreary’…“Evaluating and treating postural problems requires an understanding of basic principles relating to alignment, joint, and muscles………..Faulty alignment results in undue stress and strain on bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles….”
This one factor is where many of my clients’ aches and pains come from. It is the very first thing I check when a new client comes to me in pain. And sadly it is often overlooked by therapists and GP’s alike.
Muscles are designed to contract. They have no other function. When a muscle (Bi-ceps Brachii) causes a motion, like bending the arm at the elbow, there is a muscle on the back of the upper arm (Tri-ceps Brachii) that opposes that motion. When these two muscles are in balance then the movement is smooth and the elbow joint is pain free. When they are not in balance the movement is not efficient and often pain will be present.
This basic principle applies to every joint and every muscle in the body. T study posture fully requires time and effort but here are some basic things to look for with a client.
- Is one hip higher than the other?
- Is the hip tilted anteriorly?
- Is the hip tilted posteriorly?
- Is one foot positioned more forward than the other when the client is standing at rest?
- Is one shoulder higher than the other?
- Is the Scapular ‘tipping, winging or protracted?
- Is the Scapular rhythm ‘early, regular or late’?
All these visual guides and many many more will give the therapist clues as to which muscles are short and tight and which muscles are weak and being over stretched.
Short and tight muscles and weak and over stretched muscles all need attention but in different ways. One lot need massaging while the other needs to be strengthened through specific exercise regimes. It is important for the therapist to get it right,. Strengthening the wrong muscle or muscle group will add the client’s problems and pain. Getting it right will bring welcome pain relief and great Range of Motion to the client’s joints. This will ease muscle tension and restore balance and wellbing to their musculo-skeletal system.
Understanding the principles of posture and how to identify the key indicators will be a valuable tool for any therapist and will bring pain relief and a better quality of life for the suffering client. Massage Works.
Yours in health
Victor Solomon