The spine is a column that is best kept in an upright posture for longevity reasons. A bit like keeping your milk in the fridge, for longevity reasons. The ability to keep the spine upright is a multi-system function within the body (1). Which takes muscles, discs, joints, ligaments, fascia and bones to work together.
A functional instability (2) occurs when neuromotor capability to control mid-range motion is reduced. This means your muscles have the wrong firing pattern and can’t seem to work together. This may be caused by poor physical condition, injury, sedentary lifestyle, and / or habitual poor posture (3).
The idea that if you don’t use it you loose it applies here. As life takes over and before you know it years have passed, and you feel your body starting to creak at the seams. In looking for a stabilising upright answer please consider your age and regenerative capacity (healthiness) when reckoning on a full recovery.
At Fascia First Chiropractic we look for all sorts of reasons why your spine is not moving well and your posture is not totally upright. Injuries are obvious reasons, but the compensatory mechanisms to injury can be complex. The demonstrable neuromuscular control (see if your muscles fire up when they are meant to) and spinal motion will inform Lee of your progress.
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References:
- Barza, M. Melloh et al (2014). A conceptual model of compensation/decompensation in lumbar segmental instability. Medical Hypotheses. 83 (3); 312
- Beazell J. R. (2010). Lumbar instability: an evolving and challenging concept. J Man Manip Ther., 18(1), p.9
- Alyazedi FM, Lohman EB, et al (2015). The inter-rater reliability of clinical tests that best predict the subclassification of lumbar segmental instability: structural, functional and combined instability. The Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. 23(4):197