Newsletter November 2011

Inger and I are back from Europe and back in the clinic working with Mark and Stu.  Over in Europe I started working on writing down the method I have developed over the last 25 years.  From that work I take a small section describing why pelvic position is important to movement.

 If the pelvis is not in the correct position: 

  1. it can affect the timing on when each leg makes contact with the ground during gait.  This is a major cause of injury to the Achilles tendon.
  2. it  may either increase or decrease the lumbar curvature which in turn affects the position of the thoracic spine and head.  One of the major causes of neck pain and headaches.
  3. it can add a rotation to the lumbar spine making injury to this area more likely and is a major reason why low back injuries reoccur.  A major cause of lumbar disc injuries.
  4. muscles are designed to contract with the pelvis in the correct position.  Specific muscles cannot function efficiently from an incorrect pelvic position leading to compensatory muscle activity and incorrect movement patterns.  This may lead to pain with running, walking etc.

The pelvic position cannot be ignored for any sports or musculoskeletal injury.

There is always a multitude of factors that allows injury to occur but pelvic position is important.  I hope this has the effect of making you think how injury occurs and what needs to be done to resolve the injury and stop reoccurrence.

All the best,

Simon Klippel


Exercises for Headaches

Do you suffer from headaches?  Try these exercises daily.

Static Back

Lie on the ground on your back .  Place your feet over a platform such as a chair so that your hips and knees are bent to 90 degrees.  Position yourself so that your knees are directly above your hips and your ankles are hip width apart.  Have your arms resting comfortably out to your sides.  Breathe comfortably into your abdomen allowing your stomach to rise and fall with each breath.  You can place a weight on your stomach to practise diaphragmatic breathing.  Hold for 5 minutes.

 

Static Extension

Set up so that you kneel on a raised platform and place your hands on the ground as pictured.  Your hips should be slightly in front of your knees but your hands should be directly below your shoulders.  Allow your pelvis to roll forwards so as to create maximum arch in your lower back.  Keep your head down and pull your shoulder blades back and down.  Breathe normally as you hold this position for 2 minutes.

Special Offer

"Understanding and controlling low back pain"

  • Date:  Wednesday 30th November 2011
  • Time:  7-9pm
  • Venue:  437 Remuera Road, Remuera, Auckland

Attend this 2 hour Egoscue presentation by Simon Klippel FREE if you bring a copy of this newsletter (Value $50 per person).  Please ring the clinic on 522 9240 to book a place by Monday 28th November 2011.