The Spine & Posture.

[Guest guest]

Good Afternoon..

Not being a scientist as most on this list, I wish to offer a couple of

thoughts I have.

I've listened to most of the dialogue on anything to do with spinal

fitness, posted on this list, as well as visiting the spinal fitness link

that often appears here.

I've been lifting for 30 years. Most of my knowlege has come from others

who have shared their routines, reading what I could in the magazines before

my sight got as bad as it is, and listening to fitness shows on TV. The

best teacher has been doing the work in the gym with others.

For many years, I've had a pronounced , inward curve in my lower back.

I knew my transverse abdominous was weak but, knew very little about this

as it isn't a muscle that is spoken of much in popular muscle media. My

pelvis was tilting due to tight hip flexors and weak transverse abs.

To remedy this, I've started doing several corrective movements which I

won't go into now due to not wanting to write a book on a posting.

The problem I've had has been referred to as a weak carriage.

I am of the opinion that part of my own problem has come from differing

squatting styles. One style was when I was lifting heavy, pushing my abs

against the lifting belt to hoist great weight, versus, lifting lighter

weight, without a belt, holding the transverse abs in. I was in a mental

conflict between lifting styles. I'm sure heavy weight can still be hoisted

using the glute, tight transverse ab, style. That's another discussion.

I did understand the discussion involving leverage against a fulcrum. In

engineering, as in building a building, strength is manufactured over long

spans by using structures like trusses that have opposing triangle bracing

between two parellel runners. The strength occurs because of many, many,

fulcrums that use opposing forces to distribute the strength, making a long

object do what it otherwise could not. A human spine works the same way.

Yes, I am simplifying a mechanism which takes in many, many, other systems

that manipulate this fantastic structure.

My own posture correction which is the weakness of the transverse abs, is

one of these systems.

I know I, most likely will be bombed with responses telling me I speak

the obvious but, I feel there are those on the list that are seeking such

topics to be thrown out. Let the responses fly!

Carson Wood.

Westbrook, Maine, USA