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The Solution

Principles of biomechanics

Our muscles provide the power to move, switch on for moments at a time to stabilize and support but are unable to withstand prolonged loading.

The skeleton is the framework of the body providing support, locomotion and protection for vital organs, e.g. skull and rib cage. Limbs can be functionally described as levers and as such we can apply some basic biomechanical principles to them. Our lower limbs provide a number of functions:

The legs are functionally very different from other elements of our body such as our arms, and should be treated as such. The force of our body weight on the ground is transmitted from the ground to our body through the feet. Any faults in function at the level of the foot by nature of the articulations (joints) will necessarily effect the entire leg.

This is understood and present in the literature. The reason why a person’s foot is contacting the ground at an incorrect angle may not be the result of muscle imbalance (some muscles being too tight) but rather because of imperfections in the human skeleton, inherited variations in alignment of the leg. These differences in the skeleton whether they are in the ankle or in the more proximal segments such as the tibia and the femur are well documented in the literature.

The various mainstream musculoskeletal disciplines evolved out of a real need however they have not studied basic science and it shows in their approach to posture and walking or running problems. They studied anatomy and physiology and can impressively name all the bones and muscles but tried to make sense of walking/running mechanical function without a basis in the science of physics. Their assumption was made without taking into account the effect of gravity on the body. Great emphasis is placed on muscle function and balance with the conclusion that muscles control movement.

This is true when dealing with the upper limb as it does not carry the weight of the body. Muscles move shoulder, arm and hand within the limitations of the skeletal structure they are attached to.

It is incorrect for the rest of the body, the weight bearing skeletal structure takes the force of gravity constantly and the muscles merely help to stabilize and move according to the alignment of skeletal structure. Our skeletal structure is the reason we are able to stand erect and any variations in the lower limb will affect the posture and body mechanics of the entire weight bearing structure in standing, walking or running.

 

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