1.0Insight Chiropractic | Chiropractor Darwin, Chiropractic Care NThttps://insightchiropractic.com.auMarc Covahttps://insightchiropractic.com.au/author/insight/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content"><a href="https://insightchiropractic.com.au/people-with-chronic-neck-pain-walk-with-a-stiffer-spine/">People with chronic neck pain walk with a stiffer spine.</a></blockquote> <script type='text/javascript'> <!--//--><![CDATA[//><!-- /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";var e=!1,o=!1;if(l.querySelector)if(d.addEventListener)e=!0;if(d.wp=d.wp||{},!d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage)if(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if(t)if(t.secret||t.message||t.value)if(!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){var r,a,i,s,n,o=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]');for(r=0;r<c.length;r++)c[r].style.display="none";for(r=0;r<o.length;r++)if(a=o[r],e.source===a.contentWindow){if(a.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message){if(1e3<(i=parseInt(t.value,10)))i=1e3;else if(~~i<200)i=200;a.height=i}if("link"===t.message)if(s=l.createElement("a"),n=l.createElement("a"),s.href=a.getAttribute("src"),n.href=t.value,n.host===s.host)if(l.activeElement===a)d.top.location.href=t.value}}},e)d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",t,!1),d.addEventListener("load",t,!1);function t(){if(!o){o=!0;var e,t,r,a,i=-1!==navigator.appVersion.indexOf("MSIE 10"),s=!!navigator.userAgent.match(/Trident.*rv:11\./),n=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content");for(t=0;t<n.length;t++){if(!(r=n[t]).getAttribute("data-secret"))a=Math.random().toString(36).substr(2,10),r.src+="#?secret="+a,r.setAttribute("data-secret",a);if(i||s)(e=r.cloneNode(!0)).removeAttribute("security"),r.parentNode.replaceChild(e,r)}}}}(window,document); //--><!]]> </script><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://insightchiropractic.com.au/people-with-chronic-neck-pain-walk-with-a-stiffer-spine/embed/" width="600" height="338" title="“People with chronic neck pain walk with a stiffer spine.” — Insight Chiropractic | Chiropractor Darwin, Chiropractic Care NT" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe>https://insightchiropractic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/neck-pain-beach-e1573612835433.jpg30003065Recently I discovered an article online which researched a simple but important aspect of spinal health and motion. In a study entitled “People with chronic neck pain walk with a stiffer spine” the researchers studied whether people with chronic neck pain walked with less rotation of their body. Essentially when we walk our normal gait involves a certain amount of rotation of our spine, this is referred to as thorax-pelvis rotations. When we walk we also activate what is call the “cross extensor mechanism” this is the simple but important reflex that means when one of our arms move forward the opposite leg moves backwards, and vice versa. This reflex develops when we are babies learning to crawl. This is why it is important for babies not to skip the crawling step in their development, children who do so may have disruptions to their gait as they get older. This may impact on the efficiency of walking and running. As we repetitively activate this cross extension mechanism, as our arms and legs rhythmically swing back and forth, the mid back (thoracic spine) twists (rotates), this is thorax-pelvic rotation. The thoracic spine is adapted to twisting and as it does it allows efficient and balanced transmission of energy form the limbs to enable propulsion. In the study, a group of patients with chronic neck pain were assessed with motion capture technology to measure exactly how much their thoracic spine rotates during walking compared to normal controls. The examination was performed at 3 speeds, 3km/h, 5 km/h and self-selected, with the patients walking with their head in neutral and rotated to 30 degrees. The results of the study demonstrated that overall, the neck pain group showed shorter stride length compared to the control group. Moreover, the patients with neck pain showed smaller trunk rotations, regardless of their speed of walking or their head rotation. In addition the difference in the amount of trunk rotation between groups became larger for the conditions of walking with the head rotated. This lead to the researches concluding that people with chronic neck pain walk with reduced trunk rotation, especially when challenged by walking with their head positioned in further rotation, thereby further stressing their spine. Indicating that chronic neck pain not only affects the neck but also directly affects the thoracic spine and gait. This kind of research is very important to clinicians. In day to […]