posture, awareness, pain, spine model

Fostering Postural Interoceptive Exercises to Help Reduce Neck Pain

In a recently accepted Level 1 evidence publication (Jan 31, 2017), a study looked at how postural awareness can make an impact on non-specific neck pain. Non-specific neck pain usually indicates that there isn’t  any pathological problems. Moreover, this usually indicates a degenerative problem associated with the intervertebral discs and/or facet joints.

In their study (Does Postural Awareness Contribute to Exercise-induced Improvements in Neck Pain Intensity? A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Tai Chi and Neck Exercises) seventy-five subjects were randomly allocated to two groups: a Tai Chi group and conventional neck exercise group. After a period of 12 weeks, neck pain VAS measures decreased significantly in both groups.

The authors speculated that postural awareness played an important role in the positive outcomes.

Postural awareness can be a challenging concept to encourage especially when patients do not know the reason to do so. Dynamic Disc Designs models allow the practitioner to explain why posture is important. This fosters postural awareness through education rather than a dictatorship approach.

Interoceptive consciousness often begins with an understanding of how changing posture can change the stresses on the internal spinal structures.

Whether you are trying to motivate postural interoceptive awareness or explain why certain neck exercises are important to the patient, our models help connect the reasons at to why.

“ Your models have re-established the vital importance of the doctor / client communication relationship, dramatically bridging the gap for both to have a common understanding of the condition, the process ahead, and the targeted outcomes towards health and wellness for life. Simply perfect.” Barry Kluner DC

Postural awareness begins with an understanding of how the spine works. Our viscoelastic models show patients the effect of load and time dependent compression. Changing the angles of the endplates can significantly improve ones posture and the reduction of pressure on sensitive tissues. Teaching a patient as to WHY to improve their posture is a key to helping them reduce their pain.