Myoskeletal Alignment

Postural Patterns and Spring Systems

Upper Crossed Syndrome
Forward heads and rounded shoulders are the most common postural
faults treated by bodyworkers. Myoskeletal pain syndromes develop from
tension, trauma and poor ergonomics. Societys transition from an active
group of movers to a sedentary bunch of sitters has created a
flexion-addicted population with bodies at war with gravity.
A = Tight Line: Muscle imbalance patterns develop as hypertonic upper
trapezius, levator scapula and pectoral tissues elevate and protract the
shoulder girdle pulling the head forward.
B = Weak Line: Crossing from the overstretched rhomboids, serratus
anterior and lower trapezius through the deep neck flexors, Line B muscles
become neurologically inhibited as the tight line A and gravity pull the
shoulder girdle forward. Reciprocal inhibition creates stretch-weakness
and upper crossed asymmetry. Kyphosis Lordosis Scoliosis
The muscles listed in the box below also play major roles in distorting and

Spinal Engine Spring Systems

compressing the bodys bony framework leading to pain-spasm-pain cycles.
Restoration of balance and symmetry requires that therapists manually
lengthen the tight, facilitated muscles and tonify weak, inhibited tissues.

SSS The shoulders and pelvis must

counter-rotate during gait to avoid
Stirrup Spring facet-jamming, ligament strain and
System possible disc pathology. In Serge
Gracovetskys Spinal Engine
model, force is not generated by
the legs, but instead arises through
Biceps a complex muscle / skeletal
Femoris interaction propelled by the four
spring systems.

Tibilias Once upper and lower crossed

Perongeus Anterior symmetry is restored, the therapist
Longus assesses for improvement in
counter-rotation of torso and pelvis
and makes necessary corrections.
ASS Fine-tune any length / strength

Lower Crossed Syndrome Anterior Spring

System
imbalances to relieve torsional
forces causing low back, hip, knee,
This swayback posture typically develops from prolonged sitting and and foot pain.
sleeping with knees and hips flexed. As lumbar and SI joints become fixated,
protective spasm further compresses the spine causing low back, hip and leg
pain. Therapists must restore balance and symmetry to all lower crossed
muscles and re-check firing order patterns in hip extension, hip flexion and Internal
hip abduction. Oblique External
Oblique
A = Tight Line: Observe how tight line (A) traverses the lumbar erector
Adductors
PSS
spinae muscles and iliopsoas. Neurologically shortened iliopsoas tissues
Posterior Spring
A anteriorly tilt the pelvic bowl creating excessive lumbar lordosis. Soon, the
lumbar erector muscles shorten and lock-down the swayback posture System
resulting in a bowing of the lumbar spine. Local and referred pain symptoms
appear as compressive forces disrupt normal functioning of facet joints, discs
and spinal ligaments.
LAT
TL Fascia
B = Weak Line: Connecting the abdominals and gluteals, weak line B permits
the lower crossed asymmetry. Core support is lost as the stretch-weakened G-max
rectus and transversus abdominal muscles are overpowered by the pull of the
strong iliopsoas and erector spinae groups. LSS Biceps
Muscles listed in the box below also contribute to distortion and compression QL Femoris
Lateral
B of the bodys bony framework leading to pain-spasm-pain cycles. Myoskeletal
Techniques effectively restore balance and symmetry by manually lengthening
Spring Glute Medius
muscles of the tight line and spindle-stimulating neurologically inhibited
System
muscles of the weak line. Credit goes to Vladimir Janda, MD for research and
Adductors
development of the Upper and Lower Crossed Syndromes.

Spring System Technique Tips

Balance (side-to-side) Dont Overstretch Spindle-Stim (tonify)

ASS: Adductors Abdominal Fascia Obliques
PSS: Latissimus Dorsi Thoracolumbar Fascia G-Max
SSS: Feet, legs, pelvis, lumbars Lumbodorsal Fascial Tib/peroneus stirrup
LSS: Abductors / QL Gluteals G-med /min

al tons Freedom 5801 North Ann Arbor

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ik from Pain Institute 800-709-5054

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