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Greetings!
Welcome to October's newsletter. This month our "theme" is the Thoracic Spine. When one mentions the spine, we often hear much about the lumbar or cervical spine. This is most likely because symptoms are more popular in these regions. However, function and functional analysis looks at not only symptoms, but also the cause and compensation(s). This would lead you to speculate that a major cause for extraneous motion in the lumbar or cervical spine could be due to decreased thoracic motion-function. Perhaps a person's abdominals don't "work" because the Thoracic Spine has lost its motion-stability.
This month we will explore this region of function with hopes to stimulate thought and new strategies for your practice. We would like to thank Craig Faeth, PT, ATC, CSCS, FAFS for writing an article titled "Trunk" Driving: The Influence of the Thoracic Spine. Several Thoracic techniques will be provided.
I f you're planning on applying for GIFT '09 (our 40-week fellowship of Applied Functional Science), please contact Doug Gray (dgray@grayinstitute.com) as soon as possible.
Thank you, we appreciate - YOU. |
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Featured Article
"TRUNK" DRIVING:
The Influence of the Thoracic Spine
by
Craig Faeth, PT, ATC, CSCS, FAFS
Have you ever been driving at night, or any time, and been behind another car swerving all over the road? You cautiously slow down, keep the car in front of you, and look for the best opportunity to pass safely.
Imagine that the Thoracic Spine is that car, only it isn't swerving. The reverse is true. It is losing mobility as time passes. Subtly, your function is impaired due to this decreased mobility, and your body (your car on the road) begins to compensate. Instead of slowing down, your body begins to over utilize other joints and muscles to carry out the same function.
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Technique(s) |
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 We are excited about this month's Thoracic Spine matrix demonstration! Gary Gray, PT, FAFS will be demonstrating a three dimensional thoracic matrix that we're sure will be a new experience. The video clip is 10 minutes in length and packed with many variations to stimulate thought. If you find difficulty performing the movements, watch the Functional Manual Reaction of the Thoracic Spine. Watching this will show you how to mobilize the identified regions prior to your conditioning, ensuring the "pathway" is clear.
For more info, please refer to the following videos from the Functional Video Digest Series;
- The Trunk
- The Thoracic Spine
- FMR: The Thoracic Spine
Enjoy!
>VIEW VIDEO< |
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Research Roundtable
This month Dr. Dave Tiberio and Gary Gray PT discuss the importance of Thoracic Spine positions and three-dimensional motions. Specifically, Dave refers to research that observes the shoulder's functional influence on thoracic postures. This provokes thought relating to the affects a slouched posture may have on the shoulder? After viewing Gary and Dave's discussion and reviewing the techniques in Part One you will be equipped with sound, functional strategies to tackle this common postural fault.
For more information please refer to the selections from the Functional Video Digest Series entitled;
- Thoracic Spine: The 3D cage
- Functional Manual Reaction(FMR):
the Foot and Ankle
Enjoy!
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Questions / Answers |
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Question 1) If an elder client / patient exhibits structural thoracic rigidity, what strategy would you apply to help to improve or at least not make this postural stiffness worse?
Question 2) In respect to upright movement efficiency - because the thoracic spine is in the "center" and links the upper extremity and lower extremity, should we first focus on the structures beneath the thoracic spine (foot / ankle to hips)? Or will this depend on what's driving the inefficiency? Should there be a "where-to-go" hierarchy created with each person?
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