Upper crossed syndrome describes the characteristic pattern of dysfunctional tone of the musculature of the shoulder girdle/cervicothoracic region of the body.
ASK Dr. Joe – “Ask Me Anything”
I am creating a new blog post feature to my content called Ask Dr. Joe, or perhaps better put, Ask Me Anything*. With Ask Me Anything, you can write to me by email (joseph.e.muscolino@gmail.com) and ask me any question about: …
Decreased Ankle Dorsiflexion is Associated with Dynamic Knee Valgus
A proposed biomechanical explanation is that restricted ankle joint dorsiflexion directly results in overpronation of the foot, which causes internal rotation of the lower extremity, which strains the external/abductor musculature, which can then no longer prevent femoral adduction; hence genu valgus.
Thoracic Hyperkyphosis – The Critical Component of Upper Crossed Syndrome
For most of our clients who present with the postural distortion pattern known as upper crossed syndrome, it is important, perhaps absolutely necessary, to include thoracic spinal joint mobilization technique into extension as part of the treatment plan to address the thoracic hyperkyphosis.
Deep Pressure Massage to the Low Back – Use Body Weight
An excellent demonstration of the force that can be generated by using body weight is to lean down onto a bathroom weight scale that is placed on a table that is positioned as various heights. Simply relax and lean into the scale with your body weight and notice the force that you generate.
Does the Condition Text Neck Exist?
That people aged 18-21 in this study have not yet begun to experience pain as a result of text neck posture does not surprise me at all. They are simply still too young to experience what the physical stress of the overuse of text neck posture will eventually do to them.
Everyday Habits That Can Help You Protect Your Spine
The truth is, back problems rarely come out of nowhere. They build quietly. Tiny habits. Tiny shortcuts. Tiny moments repeated hundreds of times until your body finally decides it’s had enough.
Manual Therapy Case Study for Upper Crossed Syndrome
The therapist performed a static assessment of the client’s posture and noted the typical upper crossed syndrome with a hyperkyphotic thoracic spine, a hypolordotic lower cervical spine, a hyperlordotic upper cervical spine, protracted head, protracted scapulae, and medially (internally) rotated arms.
The Price of Smart Phones – Ten Conditions Caused by Smart Phone Use
Following are ten of the most common dysfunctional postural patterns and injuries that may occur with smart phone (cell/mobile phone) use.
What is Muscle Memory?
Muscle memory describes the concept that musculature contracts in patterns for both posture and motion, and these patterns reside in the nervous system.
What Muscles Does a Weighted Vest Work?
A weighted vest is far more than just a leg training tool. It acts as a comprehensive, full-body resistance system that simultaneously challenges your core, posture, lower body, and cardiovascular health.
Postural Assessment of the Neck
Postural assessment: Good posture is balanced and symmetrical & does not place excessive stress on the body. Bad posture is asymmetrical and/or imbalanced.
Tension Headaches
A tension headache is caused by excessive pulling force of tight muscles in the back of the neck that exert tension on their attachments on the head.
Why Understanding Spinal Biomechanics Is Essential for Long-Term Pain Management
By learning the principles of spinal biomechanics, patients and healthcare professionals can better identify the causes of pain and develop strategies that support lasting relief.
What are the self-care and medical approaches to treating a pathologic disc?
Self care for a herniated disc: avoid postures/activities that increase stress upon the disc and stretching/strengthening the musculature around the disc.
Gluteus Medius – The Deltoid of the Hip
The gluteus medius is an incredibly important muscle. It is functionally important at the hip joint, especially with frontal-plane mechanics. And this can have implications with dysfunctional movement patterns (e.g., Trendelenburg gait) as well as postural distortion patterns of scoliosis. And just as fascinating is to see the relationship between glute medius structure and function at the hip joint and compare it to the structure and function of the deltoid at the shoulder joint. Indeed, the gluteus medius can be described as the deltoid of the hip.
Rhomboids Attachments, Functions, Palpation & Treatment
The rhomboids are unusually important to be assessed and appropriately treated because of their involvement in what is likely the most common postural distortion pattern in the human body, upper crossed syndrome.
Pectoralis Minor: Anatomy, Functions, and Clinical Application
Learn everything about the pectoralis minor muscle — its anatomy, attachments, scapular functions, role in upper crossed syndrome, pectoralis minor syndrome (thoracic outlet syndrome), palpation technique, and stretching. Essential for massage therapists and manual therapy clinicians.
How do we Treat Upper Crossed Syndrome with Manual Therapy?
Especially effective for the pectoralis musculature is to use pin and stretch technique. With the client/patient supine and positioned toward the side of the table, pin the musculature with your finger pads as you bring the client/patient’s abducted arm off the side of the table and down into horizontal extension.
Self-Care and Medical Approaches to Upper Crossed Syndrome
When stretching the pectoralis musculature in a doorway, it is helpful to place the hand/forearm against the doorframe at various heights so that different aspects of the pectoralis musculature are preferentially stretched.
The Real Reason You Have Bad Posture: It’s Not Just About Sitting Up Straight
This article examines the primary drivers of postural breakdown, how compensatory patterns develop and self-reinforce, and where spinal segmental function fits into the picture for manual therapists and movement professionals working with this population.
Postural Assessment of the Low Back and Pelvis
Good posture is defined as a balanced posture that is symmetrical and does not place excessive stress on the tissues of the body.
Seven Keys to Healthy Neck Posture
Following are the seven most common postural self-care advice tips for the neck that we should give our clients/patients.
Text Neck and Neck Pain… and Neck Dysfunction
With any imbalanced posture (postural distortion pattern), including text neck posture, asymmetrical pathomechanical forces are placed into the tissues of the body. These forces have to have an effect. I believe it is impossible to argue that pathomechanics do not lead to dysfunction.
Deep Pressure Massage to the Low Back – Forward Head Posture
The neck and head do not contribute to the generation of pressure, so head and neck posture should be whatever is most comfortable and least stressful. Forward head posture, a common postural distortion imbalance pattern that occurs is caused by a flexion of the head and neck.
Reading, Writing and Posture
We often blame digital devices for bad posture, but before the advent of computers, typical postures for reading and writing were often far from ideal.
Comprehensive Spine Care Services in Jersey City
Comprehensive spine care goes beyond relief of the pain and is concerned with proper diagnosis, specific treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation.
What is Muscle Memory? How Does it Control Movement and Posture?
Where does muscle memory for baseline resting tone reside? It resides in the nervous system, the grand master controller of muscular function.
Signs, symptoms, and assessment (diagnosis) of Lower Crossed Syndrome
Assessment of lower crossed syndrome is made by the characteristic postural dysfunction of increased anterior pelvic tilt with hyperlordotic lumbar spine.
Your Spine’s Best Friends: Core, Posture & Rehab
Think of your spine like a skyscraper. Your core is the foundation. Your posture muscles are the steel beams. Rehab is the maintenance crew making sure both stay solid.
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