Unique Theta-Orthotics: Stand up Straight Posture
More individuals, therapists, and physicians are beginning to see the significance of POSTURE, especially as it relates to pain-free function and health in general.
Even though a general knowledge of the importance of good spinal position has been taught in the arts, science and western medicine have virtually abandoned any effort to actually treat postural problems.
Modern chiropractors identify, document, and treat excessive spinal curvatures. Unfortunately, the adjustment techniques they employ are only temporary. Often, patients can feel their bodies fall back out of alignment as soon as they stand up. The pull of gravity that is ever present and very strong soon reverses any benefit of the adjustment therapy.
Often, the difference between good and bad posture is not even recognized by patients or physicians. Perhaps the reason that Western medicine abandoned any real effort to treat posture is because efforts to do so were incapable of producing any long-term change or benefit. I think physicians realize that posture is correlated with general health and chronic pain, but that they are helpless to do anything about it.
Exercises, braces, and chiropractic adjustments are currently used to improve posture. Unfortunately, none of these common treatments produce any significant long-term benefits or noticeable change.
What is Posture? Is it related to health? Is it even important?
It is becoming clear to many that posture is related to chronic pain and general health. Current medical care endorses use of new medications to treat osteoporosis. Additionally, many patients take Calcium to naturally compensate for and hopefully prevent osteoporosis. When physicians prescribe and patients take these medications and supplements, it is because they recognize the correlation between de-mineralization of the bones, poor body posture, and general health. They believe if they can strengthen the bone and maintain ample supply of calcium to the nerve tissue, it will restore vitality to the spine. When physicians prescribe physical therapy and/or braces, they do so because they believe that a weakness in the spine is causing chronic medical conditions. What is not yet understood by most physicians is that poor body posture causes both the osteoporosis and the back pain – not the other way around. If they understood that posture was causative, they would waste little time pursuing treatment focused on one or two signs and symptoms of the overall problem.
The study of human body mechanics and the role they play in posture, are currently being researched in human biomechanics. Biomechanical principles teach closed kinetic chain theory. These theories maintain that when standing, pronation of the foot results in internal rotation of the legs, excessive pelvic tilt, increased curvature of the spine, and ultimately, poor posture. Researchers using sophisticated force plates and computerized software are trying to understand what is happening to the joints and muscles of our body as we stand, walk, and run. Unfortunately, with only about 30 years of research in this new field, little consensus exists as to how one can change, limit, or control the forces that naturally tear down posture as we age.
The science behind Yoga teaches sitting techniques that stabilize the pelvis horizontally. When breathing techniques are applied to a horizontal pelvis, spinal curvature is reduced and the spine becomes much straighter. These practices involve time-consuming sitting postures and are not generally compatible with the ambulatory lifestyle of modern life. Reportedly, some of the masters in these disciplines have managed to stay quite healthy and even extend death to well into their hundreds. Not quite the length of time that biblical prophets were described to have lived, but better than the life expectancy attributed to humans by modern science and medicine.
Osteopathic and Chiropractic medicines have become very popular in the last few decades and, to me, are modern evidence of the importance of spinal curvature and posture as they relate to health. Many different exercise programs selectively strengthen the very muscles necessary to counteract the forces that destroy human posture.
The real problem is not so much IF any of these techniques can help to improve posture, but HOW MUCH they can help.
Can anything change or reverse postural breakdown?
- You believe it is too good to be true that you could actually stand straighter, have less pain, and change the way you walk and stand, just by putting orthotics in your shoes.
- I know you are skeptical of the internet in general, let alone products that provide health benefits not available from any other source.
- I realize you think that if your doctor is not telling you about the benefits related to a treatment, it must not be of any real value.
- I understand that your back problems have been diagnosed by several physicians and that you have seen a physical therapist, a chiropractor, and a massage therapist.
- I also know that as long as you walk and stand improperly, symptoms will get worse and you will gradually need to decrease your activity more and more.
- Most importantly, I know how to change the way you walk and stand – Just like I did for myself.
Believe it or not progressive treatment with theta can significantly change posture when nothing else can.
