The ability to become bipedal is predicated on several developmental milestones; each reflex and motor pattern builds upon one another in a sequential and purposeful manner (Cech & Martin, 2012). In time, successful completion and mastery of the aforementioned milestones lays the groundwork for an infant to walk. One particular example of a gross motor […]
Read MoreShoulder instability is a common cause of pain within the glenohumeral (GH) joint, particularly among young athletes (Heyworth & Kocher, 2013). Although the GH joint allows a greater arc of motion compared to other joints in the body, it is also the most commonly dislocated joint in adolescents and adults (Heyworth & Kocher, 2013). Treating […]
Read MoreNeck pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal complaint, reaching as many as 30%-50% of the adult population (Cagnie, Struyf, Cools, Castelein, Danneels, & O’Leary, 2014). Additionally, 50%-85% of those who do experience neck pain continue to report discomfort following 1-5 years after the onset (Leaver, Maher, McAuley, Jull, Latimer, & Refshauge, 2013). Thus, understanding the nature […]
Read MoreJanda noted a unique relationship between the skeletal system, muscular system, and the central nervous system (CNS); movement has a direct relationship to, and is a product of, interactions of the aforementioned systems (Page, Lardner, & Frank, 2010). Furthermore, distal joints and related movement patterns are inexorably affected by proximal joints and associated motor control. […]
Read MorePhysical function may be thought of as goal-directed movement, considered the link between physical actions, colloquially defined as movement, and the environment in which it takes place (Cech & Martin, 2012). Such characteristics are essential, as they permit individuals to survive, adapt, and learn within the environment (Cech & Martin, 2012). If movement is inhibited […]
Read MorePhysical function may be thought of as goal-directed movement, considered the link between physical actions, colloquially defined as movement, and the environment in which it takes place (Cech & Martin, 2012). Such characteristics are essential, as they permit individuals to survive, adapt, and learn within the environment (Cech & Martin, 2012). If movement is inhibited […]
Read MoreExtended periods of seated positions (i.e., desk-based work) can cause deleterious changes in posture over time. Such changes are characterized by a flexed thoracic spine, facilitated pectoralis major and minor muscles on the anterior side, in addition to facilitated upper trapezius and levator scapulae muscles on the posterior side. Conversely, the deep cervical flexors of […]
Read MoreWhen looking at a lumbar spine fusion surgery, does the spine change movement patterns above and below the site of the fusion thereafter? Such a question is relevant since moving spinal segments (i.e., immediately above and below a fixation) beyond their natural ranges (i.e., flexion, extension, rotation) might have deleterious long-term effects. The following sections will […]
Read MoreTensegrity can be thought of as an aggregate of compressive and tensile forces, which induce stability (Levin, 2002). Tensegrity not only exists at the cellular level; research has supported a link of the cell to the extracellular matrix, thereby affecting the behavior of other cells it is connected with. Moreover, observations have also suggested a […]
Read MoreMuscles, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and human movement do not exist in individualized vacuums; they share a complex and interdependent relationship to one another as a means of achieving biological homeostasis, and ultimately, survival. One can visualize such co-dependence and function through the tensegrity model. Tensegrity, at its root, states that structures as small as […]
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