{"id":10033,"date":"2024-02-16T11:53:01","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T19:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brianesty.com\/bodywork\/?p=10033"},"modified":"2024-04-16T08:01:02","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T15:01:02","slug":"body-reading","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brianesty.com\/bodywork\/2024\/02\/body-reading\/","title":{"rendered":"Body Reading"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Body reading is a valuable skill any Manual Therapist should practice. The essence of the skill is to build a working knowledge of the ideal center of gravity of the human body and to be able to effectively guess the center of mass of the body that you are reading. Variances between these two sides indicate imbalances that offer clues to what to do to improve physical function. These variances also suggest which evolutionary layer<\/a> is most active in the imbalance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this website, a simpler form of body reading is described, which is adequate for suggesting therapeutic tactics. Here we divide the body through its midpoint in the planes of the three dimensions: Top\/Bottom, Left\/Right, and Front\/Back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Axial\/Transverse Plane<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

TOP\/DOWN: TRANSVERSE PLANE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does the body mass appear more dominant above\/below the horizontal midline?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Focus 2\/3rds of the work on the less dominant side.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Homolateral Movements<\/strong>
Movement of body parts on the same side of the body in a synchronized manner. Unlike contralateral movement, which involves opposite sides working together, homolateral movement might involve, for example, the right arm and right leg moving together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-Help Integrative Exercises<\/strong>
The 5 Tibetan Rites are very helpful for integrating structure and function across these midlines. The is a post discussing these exercises here:
5 TIBETAN RITES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Coronal\/Frontal Plane<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

FRONT\/BACK: FRONTAL PLANE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does the body mass appear more dominant between the front and back of the body, or is there a slumped forward or hyperextended appearance? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Focus 2\/3rds of the work on the less dominant side.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Homologous Movements<\/strong>
Motor actions where the same parts of the body on both sides move simultaneously in the same direction. For example, when both arms are extended forward together, both legs kick simultaneously while swimming, or both hands clap together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-Help Integrative Exercises<\/strong>
The 5 Tibetan Rites are very helpful for integrating structure and function across these midlines. The is a post discussing these exercises here:
5 TIBETAN RITES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sagittal\/Longitudinal\/Median Plane<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

SIDE\/SIDE: MEDIAN PLANE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does the body mass appear more dominant on one side? Baseball pitchers often have an extreme example of this asymmetry. More common is a \u201chip hiking\u201d pattern which is dominant on one side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Focus 2\/3rds of the work on the less dominant side.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contralateral Movements<\/strong>
Involve parts of the body on opposite sides moving about each other. For example, when the left arm and right leg move in a coordinated manner, as seen in activities like walking or running. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-Help Integrative Exercises<\/strong>
The exercises in this post will be helpful:
CROSS CRAWL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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GENERAL EXERCISE TO DEVELOP GLOBAL INTEGRATION<\/strong>
My recommendation for all clients is to develop their:
FOREFOOT GAIT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TOUCH THERAPY STARTER SUGGESTIONS<\/strong>
If you don’t have a good touch therapy inspiration, here is an assortment of excellent places to start. Use the assessment above to inform your focus:
RUBBING POINTS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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STRUCTURE FACILITATES FUNCTION THREE-DIMENSIONALLY<\/strong>
A fossilized Bison vertebrae illustrate Functional interactions within Structure across three spatial dimensions through time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n