A Clinically Important But Largely Missed Concept in Chiropractic Technique.

Think of a steel pole stuck in the ground with a wire cage hanging on one side of it.

Is that cage going to pull on that pole in it's direction? Yes.

Is that cage going to catch a wind gust occasionally and pull on it more? Yes.

Now, let's apply this to human body. The pole above is your Spinal Column and the Cage is your Rib Cage.

Of course you have a pelvis and legs and ankles and feet, but more on that later - I specifically want to address...

The (mechanical) relationship of the Rib Cage to the Lumbar Spine.

They are "bro's". They know exactly what each is doing at all times. One inextricably affects the other at all times, whether we are resting, sitting, standing, or walking.

In fact, the wonderous design of the Lumbar spine, with regard to it's healthy forward curve, helps to use the Rib Cage in body movement. Additionally the Lumbar's tough and strong nature will aborb the stress of movement as a "Base" while the Rib Cage acting like an "Upper Anchor" for movement of the rest of the body.

Clinical Application:

That is why when I fully address the Rib Cage on every treatment I give, I get excellent results - fully self-evident to patient with them standing taller and breathing easier.

And since the body operates as 1 synchronizing unit, this in turn, reveals deep-seated misalignments in the Lumbar Spine (Low Back) which I correct directly before and after the Rib Cage is addressed.

In short, if you don't properly and fully address the Rib Cage, you WILL NOT, as a practiitioner, even get a chance to detect (while assessing the patient during treatment) ALL the things wrong with the Lumbar Spine.

Flushed out into the open, I fully correct the Lumbar spine and Voila! Spinal Correction is made easier and faster (and possible)!

The same "Flushed out" concept can be applied to correcting Bio-hydraulics in the body and how the Ribs move MUCH easier after THAT is done. But that's another article.. Read "The "Winds of Change": The Role of the Rib Cage in Holding the Body Upright!".