How Strong is YOUR Foundation?

In most areas of life we understand that STRUCTURE and FUNCTION are intimately related. So much so that we would not considering purchasing a home unless the foundation was inspected for stability. Without a firm foundation the home of your dreams can quickly become your worst nightmare. Since this principle is firmly established, how do we apply it to our health? The process is not as complicated as you may think, and can be simply demonstrated using our house analogy. In fact, we can sum it up (broadly) in three steps:

1. Understand our foundation
2. Inspect our foundation
3. Correct any issues that the inspection reveals

Step 1. Understanding our foundation

Unlike a house, the foundation of the human body is not the part that anchors us to the ground. We are built for motion, and as such, our foundation lies deep within. The spine consists of 24 movable vertebrae and serves as the foundation of the rigid framework that is the human skeleton. As the foundation, the spine serves as the attachment point of both arms, both legs, and the rib cage. Layered on top of these structures are many soft tissues (tendons, ligaments, muscles, fascia, etc.). One unique property of the human body is that the tension of these soft tissue structures provides the energy to hold our skeleton upright. As a purely mechanical structure, the human skeleton would not stand upright on its own. The synergy of all of these systems (muscular, skeletal, fascial, etc.) is literally the glue that holds us together (for the nerds who want to explore this concept further, research the topic of tensegrity). 

Step 2. Inspect our foundation

A good home inspector knows exactly where to check for foundation issues. Anyone who has purchased a home knows that a minor investment in securing this data can save thousands of dollars in the long run. The process of inspection involves using tools to collect objective data that will reveal a few important things:

• is there a problem (or not)
• how severe is the problem
• what steps need to be taken to resolve the problem

NeuroStructural chiropractors approach the spine in the same manner. Using objective analytics, we look to the key areas in the foundation of the human body (the spine) and detect any Structural Shifts that may be present. Simultaneously we measure Functional parameters that indicate the global effects of a local shift, creating a complete picture. While we refer to this as a NeuroStructural Examination, in theory it is very similar to a home inspection. By comparing our findings to normal values, we can determine the following in regards to your foundation:

• is there a problem (or not)
• how severe is the problem
• what steps need to be take to resolve the problem

Step 3. Correct any issues that the inspection reveals

In case you've lost track of our house analogy, here's where it all comes together. When the foundation of a house shifts even slightly, in time secondary effects will become apparent. For example: you can expect to find cracks in the plaster/drywall, creaking floorboards, and doors and windows that don't shut properly. A reasonable person understands that patching the plaster/drywall, putting a nail in the floorboard, and shaving the door down is not the solution. The PRIMARY issue is with the foundation, which over time leads to a series of Secondary Conditions (symptoms). In the same way, Structural Shifts that occur in our foundation (the spine) cause the entire body to compensate. In order to maintain tension and stay upright, a number of mechanisms kick in to accommodate the Structural Shift. As a result, it is not uncommon for a number of Secondary Conditions to manifest including: muscular tension, neck and back pain, fatigue, headaches, spinal degeneration, etc. While these Secondary Conditions are commonly the focus of attention, they are often a result of an underlying Primary Cause (Structural Shift). Using the data collected during the NeuroStructural Examination, specific spinal adjustments can be employed in order to address any Structural Shifts that may have been revealed. In fact, many NeuroStructural chiropractors find that they achieve better results by focusing care on correcting the Primary Condition rather than attempting to temporarily alleviate Secondary Conditions (symptoms).

Test yourself: Throughout the next couple days, pay attention to the structural integrity (or lack thereof) of things around you. Notice the potholes in the road, the chairs in the restaurant, etc. Take note of how STRUCTURE impacts FUNCTION in daily life. This will help you to internalize this concept and empower you with the knowledge to think critically about your health!

Let us know what you find. If you found this information helpful, feel free to share it.