Every Bone Has It’s Natural Place
The particular arrangement of the human skeleton is a product of the demands of upright living and the constant force of gravity. Each bone has a natural place relative to its neighbours. As in the song “Dem Bones” by James Weldon Johnson, The foot bones connected to the ankle bone, The ankle bones connected to the leg bone, The Leg bones connected to the knee bone … and on it goes.
Our weight bearing bones need healthy stresses to keep them strong. If they are not stressed adequately enough calcium leeches from them leading to osteoporosis or osteopenia. Weight bearing exercises keep the bones strong. If the bones are misaligned and weight is distributed incorrectly, it can lead to arthritic changes in the form of bone spurs (osteophytes). Our spines, hips, knees and feet are subject to misalignment.
Foot Problems – When we went from being qudrupedal to bi-pedal beings, we developed a large heel bone to support our new upright position. The heel bone is made of cross fiber construction and can bear the weight of our bodies. The bones in the front of the foot are delicate and not meant for weight bearing. The problem is that many people now days carry their weight on the middle or front of the foot. This can lead to bunions, Morton’s neuroma, sesamoid bone fractures and planter fasciitis. Remember to keep your w
eight over your heels.
Knee Problems – Rotating the knees inwards can wreak havoc on other areas of the body. It can cause our hips to be misaligned in the socket and the feet to pronate causing instability in the ankle and the foot arches to collapse. It also directly correlates to underuse of the buttock muscles. In any case this posture can cause torn ligaments, damaged meniscus or arthritic changes in the knee. Solution- wrapping the leg muscles outwards will externally rotate the entire leg resulting in healthy alignment of the hips, knees and ankles.
Another problem is locking the knees. Locked knees causes tension in the leg and poor circulation. This can lead to improper hip position which can cause it’s own set of problems. Think “soft knees.”
Hip Problems – People today often let their hips ride forward when standing or walking. This causes the natural space in between the ball of the femur and the acetabulum (hip socket) to lesson, compromising the joint and causing a bone on bone situation. Bursitis, arthritis or even the need for a hip replacement could be the result of this unhealthy stance.
Hips pushed forward will also impede circulation by occluding the femoral arteries, veins and nerves to the legs and feet. Some situations that may result are cold feet, slower heeling of the legs, and Raynaud’s Syndrome.
Learning to align the hips over the weight bearing heel bone is key in avoiding these unpleasant scenarios.
Proper Alignment – When you look at yourself sideways in the mirror what do you see? Where are “Dem Bones?” If you are standing correctly the shoulder, hips, and ankles should be in a straight line. This tells you that you are putting healthy stresses on the right bones in the right places. Re-establishing correct posture is your ticket to preventing future problems caused by misaligned bones.
Article based on “8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back” by Esther Gokhale
Contributed By Michelle “Mickie” Ball, Massage Therapist and Gokhale Method® Teacher – 0428 223 271
For more information on current Gokhale Method® Courses in Australia go to www.gokhalemethod.com/biography/Michelle_Ball
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