Shoulder disparity

[Cilian McHugh]

I realise that something as complex as postural analysis is best done in person, but perhaps someone could nudge me in the right direction for some further investigation.

When standing totally relaxed my left shoulder is minutely (2.5-3 cm) higher than my right. Does anybody have any ideas about possible underlying imbalances?

Fraternal
Cilian

[Scott Sonnon]

Cilian, too much to determine by remote. And don't think of this in terms of postural distortion, but ration poise interference.

Posture is a product of movement (and breath). The movement regards muscular action to stabilize your joints and keep you anti-gravitational.

It will be easier to offer guidance if you could provide any info on how your performance is being impeded. Do you have Freedom By Degree (http://www.rmax.tv/freedom.html)?

[bob_stra]

I realise that something as complex as postural analysis is best done in person, but perhaps someone could nudge me in the right direction for some further investigation.

When standing totally relaxed my left shoulder is minutely (2.5-3 cm) higher than my right. Does anybody have any ideas about possible underlying imbalances?

Fraternal
Cilian

I could write several thousand words on that question alone. I think you're all fairly bored of me doing that by now ;-)

Let me try and be succinct. (ha!)

Preamble:

Posture = acture and alignment.

where -

Acture = ability to move, in any direction *from* any direction. Here the ideas of "stable mobility and mobile stability" come to the fore. Also many related concepts like reversibility of movement, control, initiation, inhibition.

Alignment = the "correct" placement of one articulation above another. Note - this varies from person to person and within situations.

Question: Is there such a thing a "poor posture", or is it simply and inability to adjust to changing environmental demands? Before you accuse me of being a PC, pot smoking hippy, really consider the question for yourself.

Amusing anecdote: One of my teachers was discussing a spinal condition. He mentioned that a "straight spine" is "optimal". I mentioned that in nature a curve / coil / arch can bear more weight than a straight beam.

It was a ... interesting argument ;-) I'm not sure who was right (hey, I'm arrogant enough to think it was me) but it does illustrate a point.

Take home message:

> When standing totally relaxed

Are you standing totally relaxed? Or, in fact, is something else happening. (Hint: I suspect so, but I don't want to let the cat out of the bag. Close your eyes and see if you can focus on what your feet & legs are doing).

Remember the old nursery rhyme "the foot bone is connected to the knee bone, the knee bone is connected to the hip bone, the hip bone ..."

> my left shoulder is minutely (2.5-3 cm) higher than my right.

In standing, how are things aligned? What are the shoulder aligned *relative* to? Note: focus on thinking of joints / articulations at first.

BIG FRIGGIN HINT: What is the longest, biggest piece "articulated bone" in your body? How does that relate to your shoulders?

> Does anybody have any ideas about possible underlying imbalances?

I can guess, but do you really want me to tell you, or would you rather I nudge? Sometimes, purposeful vagueness can be mighty useful ;-)

[Scott Sonnon]

Beautiful written.

Cilian be careful using the word "nudge" around Dr. Bob. :wink:

[bob_stra]

Beautiful written.

Cilian be careful using the word "nudge" around Dr. Bob. :wink:

Hey hey hey, enough of this Dr Bob business ;-) I'm all for praise, but I just ain't deserving. Not for several more years if it all (depending where my studies take me).

As for nudging, I've spoken with Cilian before, so I suspect his bullshit metre is well calibrated to my ramblings ;-)

[bob_stra]

I want to make a comment on what I wrote previously. What I was trying to express was a "value neutral" view of looking at posture. IE: seeing people as people, not a bunch of signs and symptoms.

Ironically, I realise now that the idea of holding a "value neutral system" of posture isn't value neutral. It is a preference based on certain subjective phenomena. And I while I can point to hard science to back up my comments, they still come from that background.

IOW I don't want to discount other, very real objective phenemona. For example, a shoulder dislocation would very nicely account for 2-3cm disparity in height.

In some ways, this relates back to the "Dangers of Diagnosis" thread.

So use your own discretion.

I'll leave it up to you whether subjective is as valid as objective.

[Cilian McHugh]

Guys,

Thank you for the replies.

Coach Sonnon,

I am not intuitively linking this to any performance impediment, not to say it isn't happening, but if it is I haven't twigged where yet. I have Freedom By Degree making it's way through the Postal Machine presently.

Bob,

Thanks for the areas to work in, I see what you're getting at re: the knee bones :wink: after our last conversation. Since then a couple of pennies have dropped for me after more dedicated study. BTW My BS-meter is usually reserved for people who BS I've had to employ the 'print out and read several times' methodology for your fantastic posts, actually I developed that methodology after coming across Scott's work several years ago, all these intellectuals who make one think :lol:

I'll have a feel through these ideas over the weekend and post any discoveries on monday or tuesday.

Thanks again.

Cilian