CONNECTIONS to HEALTH

A Matter of Some Gravity When a vertebra misaligns it can impinge on the nerve roots that emerge from between the vertebrae. This can lead to pain, and dysfunction of the target cells for the nerves affected, but it can also affect other tissues adjoining the vertebra, such as the muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia and blood and lymph vessels. The joint can even lose its function. This also has a knock-on effect to the organs. Self Correcting In fact misaligned vertebrae cause so much distress to the body that it has developed its own in-built mechanisms to correct them itself. The body will take the kinetic energy of movement, transfer it through to the postural muscles where it is converted to an adjustment of the misalignment. It's only when the self correcting mechanisms go wrong that the person experiences dis-ease. Time for Professional Help At this stage a chiropractor or osteopath may rectify the misalignment and the patient's innate healing abilities will kick in and restore balance and harmony once more. As skilful as these professionals are, not many stop to ask why the self correcting mechanism has gone wrong. One person who did stop to ask was a chiropractor called John Hurley. John Hurley John Hurley had been a structural engineer before he became a chiropractor, and he knew that if the centre of gravity of a static object, like a building say, became out of alignment with its counter weight, then the object would collapse. In a dynamic structure, like the human body, compensation would take place delaying the onset of collapse. He wondered what compensations would happen if the body's centre of gravity became out of alignment with its counterweight. Development During the 1920's John Hurley and his chiropractor wife, Helen Sanders, used their knowledge of chiropractic, engineering, the laws of leverage and anatomy and physiology to determine what happens to a body when its centre of gravity is out of alignment. They found that chronic holding patterns built up in the postural muscles, which prevented collapse. Once these chronic holding patterns developed then the muscles were not flexible enough to convert the kinetic energy of movement into an adjustment of the vertebral misalignments. They then went on to develop unique ways of returning the centre of gravity to its correct position with respect to its counterweight while at the same time reducing the holding patterns that had built up in the postural muscles. This allowed their patients' innate healing abilities to come into affect and restore themselves to health and vigour. In 1932 they published their book called "Aquarian-Age Healing for You" and began teaching their technique to other chiropractors. Later Developments Since 1962 the person responsible for preserving, developing and passing on this technique is Dr. LaMar Rosquist D.C. It was he who renamed the technique "Spinal Touch". In 1998 Sue Weller and Allyn Edwards, both English McTimoney chiropractors, went over to America to train with Dr. Rosquist. They had been the principal and senior practical tutors at the McTimoney College of Chiropractic and Dr. Rosquist asked them if they would train to be tutors of Spinal Touch and teach his technique in Europe. Since then they have been teaching the authorised technique, in conjunction with Dr. Rosquist, to existing body workers as an add-on qualification. The Importance of the Sacrum The sacrum's position and its relationship to the vertebral column are critical in enabling the body to function correctly in Earth's environment of constant gravity. Sudden or gradual stress and strain on the normal functioning of this relationship sets up an imbalance that distorts the body's posture through muscle contraction. Left uncorrected, this places a strain on the skeletal system, which in turn causes the body to lose its shape. Though often subtle, organ positions are also disturbed or subject to extra strain. The Importance of Rest The way to reverse this trend of increasing strain and distortion is to encourage the muscles to relax and to rest. A relaxed muscle allows the body to return to its normal posture and a rested muscle allows all of the toxins that accumulated during the contraction phase to be released into the system for disposal. When we speak of the organs of the body, we are including all functions of the skeletal system, the muscular system, the nervous system, the circulatory system, the respiratory system, the digestive system, the immune system, the sensory system, the urinary system and the reproductive system. Each system is dependent on every other system in the body organism to perform its function. When one part breaks down, it has an effect on the rest of the body systems, causing disruption to a greater or lesser extent. Because Ishta Spinal Touch helps the body to relax, it improves health as a whole, even when a patient has come because of a specific problem. By correcting the distortions of the body that are caused by stress and strain, Ishta Spinal Touch allows the body to rest. Once the body is allowed to relax sufficiently, it will start to heal itself.   Time to Have Your Posture Checked If you're not standing as erect as these drawings illustrate, you could be a candidate for health problems. Are your shoulders and hips levels? Would a line down your side connect your ear, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle? Or does your body show hidden signs of distortion and distress? Ask your Ishta Spinal Touch practitioners. They are the guardians of your health, both today's and tomorrow's. For an Ishta Spinal Touch appointment contact Allyn, Sue or Alaine.

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