A10 Postural Problems

Topic

Postural issues are alterations in body geometry that manifest as segmental misalignments and load imbalances, occurring in both static and dynamic postures. These geometric alterations modify the body's mechanical lever arms, shift its center of mass, and generate compensatory kinematic patterns.

Among these alterations, the change in the body's mechanical lever arms is the primary one: when a segmental misalignment alters the length or orientation of these lever arms, the force each body segment must bear to produce the same movement also changes, thereby redistributing loads across various joints and muscles.

The second effect is the displacement of the body's center of mass from its usual position: when postural issues shift this center of mass, the body's stability—whether standing or in motion—is compromised, as the body must constantly reorganize its base of support to maintain a center of mass that is no longer where it should be.

The third effect involves compensatory kinematic patterns: the load redistribution caused by altered mechanical lever arms and the stability issues resulting from the shifted center of mass force the body to generate these compensatory patterns. It adjusts the movement of other segments to distribute the load tolerably and keep the center of mass within a range that does not compromise stability.

Ultimately, these compensatory kinematic patterns represent the body's response to the initial postural issues: the segmental misalignment that altered the mechanical lever arms and the load imbalance that shifted the center of mass. As long as these postural issues persist, the body continues to rely on these same compensatory kinematic patterns to remain functional.

ID:600