Each of our vertebrae move in three planes of motion:
1)The Sagittal Plane - forward and back
2)The Frontal Plane - side to side
3)The Transverse Plane - into rotation.
The first line of defense to establishing one’s best postural alignment… is in the Sagittal Plane.
When we are in our best Sagittal Plane alignment, we see a small backwards curve in our neck, called a cervical lordosis. This will be represented when one’s ears are right above one’s shoulders.
Next, we see in the middle of our spine a slight forward bend called a thoracic kyphosis.
Lastly, in our lower spine, we see a small backwards curve in our low back, called lumbar lordosis.
When all three of these curves are represented and maintained, we are offering our spine it’s most stable position.
Unfortunately, with the combination of our eyes being on the front of our head and constant reaching forward for items such as keyboards, steering wheels, phones, etc., the forces of gravity pull us out of this corrected Sagittal Plane alignment, decreasing the cervical and lumbar lordosis and increasing the thoracic kyphosis.
Additionally, there is a natural stability achieved in the sagittal plane alignment because of bony structures called facets on the outside of the vertebrae that look like arms. These facets are adjacent to one another on both sides of each vertebra, from top to bottom, and offer spinal stability.
Unfortunately, once we lean forward into spinal flexion, we lose this structural stability and invite the inevitable, coupled motions of side bending and rotating.
Herein begins the downfall of the Sagittal Plane.
Many believe that restoring the Sagittal Plane is the most important piece to decreasing spinal conditions, pain, and disability.
The Story of the Sagittal Plane tells of an age old concept…STAND UP STRAIGHT.
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