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Digital
posturography is the state-of-the-art method of determining someone's
center-of-gravity (COG), or more accurately, their center-of-pressure (COP); our
equipment is accurate to 0.1-mm.
In addition to
finding the COP, the patient's sway pattern is measured and assessed. The
amount of sway each of us manifest is based on:
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The
efficiency of our
proprioceptive system
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The
coordination of our subconsciously regulated spinal stabilizers
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The tone of
the hamstrings and spinal musculature
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The
function of the cerebellum
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Flexibility
of the rib cage / diaphragm during breathing
When upright,
ideally our COP should be midline between our feet and just in front of our
ankles. Any deviation away from this COP is dysfunction. These
dysfunctional deviations result in:
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Structural
inefficiency - to remain upright, muscles must be more contracted to keep
you from falling over.
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Asymmetrical loading of the joints, which leads to premature wear and
ultimately arthritis.
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Spinal
distortions - if you're not centered, you're shifting forward/backward
and/or left/right, which will cause the spine to shift - leading to chronic
subluxations.
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Greater
likelihood of falling - this is very important for the elderly to be
assessed.
Some factors
that can affect COP and sway are:
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Vertebral subluxation
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An
anatomically short leg
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Scoliosis
(spinal curvature)
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Trauma
(disrupts the proprioceptive system)
Below is a
patient who is transferring their weight (COP) to the left and rearward.
The red lines designate the testing done with the eyes open, the blue lines are
with the eyes closed.
What can be done
to help correct this? Each case is different and most times there are more
than one reason behind the dysfunction. One thing that can be done
consistently across the board with all patients is to increase their activity
levels, specifically with activities that require balance (Yoga, Pilates, Tai
Chi, exercise ball routines, etc).
The bottom line
is that we are vertical creatures and our physical abilities are based on our
ability to conform and adapt to our environment and gravity. Postural
dysfunction decreases our efficiency, results in premature wear and ultimately
leads to a poorer quality of life.
RESEARCH
Roger Sperry, the 1981 Nobel
Prize winner for brain research is quoted as saying that . . .
"Better than 90 percent of the energy output of the brain is used in
relating
to the physical body in its gravitational field. The more
mechanically distorted
a person is, the less energy available for
thinking, metabolism and healing."
"Posture affects and moderates every physiologic function from
breathing to hormonal production. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood
pressure, pulse and lung capacity are among the functions most
easily influenced by posture."
--American Journal of Pain Management
1994, 4: 36-39
"To Live a long, active, energetic life, few things matter more than
good posture"
--American Journal of Pain Management
1994, 4: 36-39
"Posture and normal physiology and function are interrelated.
Abnormal posture is evident in patients with chronic pain-related
conditions including backache, headache, and stress-related
illnesses."
--American Journal of Pain Management
1994, 4: 36-39 |
