POOR POSTURE: Slouching, standing with more weight on one foot, leaning to one side, sleep position, and any other position that throws the body out of neutral alignment. REPETITIVE MOVEMENTS: Overuse of certain muscles from activities such as computer keyboard use, heavy lifting or sports. INJURIES OR TRAUMA: Accidents, falls or surgeries. MUSCLE WEAKNESS OR TIGHTNESS: Overdeveloped or underused muscles. SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE: Prolonged sitting or lack of physical activity can weaken stabilizing muscles STRUCTURAL ABNORMALITIES: Scoliosis, kyposis, lordosis, pelvic tilt or rotation, leg length discrepancies, flat feet, high arches, or joint deformities. IMPROPER MOVEMENT PATTERNS: Using incorrect techniques during exercise or daily activities STRESS AND EMOTIONAL TENSION: Causes muscle tightness, especially in the neck, shoulders and back. NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES: Lack of proper nutrients effects muscle health and recovery FOOTWEAR AND GAIT ISSUES: Shoes that are too tight or too loose, or with the heel above the forefoot, or abnormal walking patterns affecting alignment. AGING AND DEGENERATION: Conditions like arthritis or reduced elasticity in muscles and joints. WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION ISSUES: Being over weight or carrying weight unevenly. NEUROMUSCULAR and AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS: Some are progressive and incurable, causing muscle weakness, loss of coordination, muscle atrophy, and spasticity (causes muscles to become stiff and rigid). Parkinsons,ALS and Polio. Others are caused by the body attacking itself. Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Guillain-Barre Pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in a limb can be caused by trauma, compression or inflammation to a nerve plexus (A bundle of nerves intersecting and coming together to supply a specific body part) Diabetes and certain cancers can also cause injury to a nerve plexus. CERVICAL PLEXUS: provides nerve connections to the head, neck and shoulder. BRACHIAL PLEXUS: Provides nerve connections to the chest, shoulders, upper arms, forearms, and hands. LUMBAR PLEXUS: provides nerve connections to the back, abdomen, groin, thighs, knees, and calves. SACRAL PLEXUS: provides nerve connections to the pelvis, buttocks, genitals, thighs, calves and feet. Nerve Root Disorders result from sudden or long term pressure on the spinal nerve root. This ismost commonly caused by a herniated disc or osteoarthritis of the spine.Rheumatoid arthritis can cause changes in the spine that can cause pressure on the nerve root. A tumor or abscess can put pressure on the nerve root as well. Diabetes, Tuberculosis, Lyme Disease, Syphilis and Shingles sometimes affect the nerve root. Symptoms vary depending upon which nerve root is affected: Pain, Tingling, Numbness, Twitching, Spasms, Burning sensation, Electric shock, or muscle atrophy. Cauda Equina syndrome is a true medical emergency. Permanent paralysis can result with delayed treatment. Severe pain will shoot all over due to compression on the bundle of nerves exiting the lumbar spine. There may be weakness in the legs, incontinence or urine retention, loss of bowel control, and a loss of sensation in the saddle area (buttocks, genitals, bladder, and rectum).
Each one of the above will cause compensatory movement patterns, so most will find some type of relief with Corrective Bodywork Massage. Return to previous page