The Patient Choice Practice:
Teaching with The Posture Principles II
Steven P. Weiniger, DC / Founder, BodyZone.com

AcuteCare is for pain relief. RehabCare, the second phase of a Patient’s Choice Practice, helps to strengthen function. However, many insurance policies do not pay for non-acute care, so care must “make sense” to people before they will choose to pay, out of pocket, for RehabCare or WellnessCare.

The goal of helping people “Move Naturally, Feel Good, and Be Well” is great for health and well-being, but it may not be paid by insurance because it is viewed as “medically beneficial, not medically necessary. A biomechanical patient education model is necessary for patients to “get” the importance of keeping their body moving well.

People learn by synthesizing a combination of visual, auditory and kinesthetic (or touch) based information. This patient demonstration shows people how poor posture directly affects how their body functions.

Forward Head Posture and Neck Rotation Patient Education Demonstration

INTRODUCTION:

In our society, many people spend most of their day folded into a sitting position. Many, if not most, of these people have a Forward Head Posture. If you never fully move in a direction, such as turning your head all the way to the right, some muscles will weaken with disuse. An imbalance between used and unused muscles is the source of much joint stress, strain, and wear. This demonstration shows people how their Forward Head Posture diminishes their neck rotation.

DEMO:

First, standing straight, observe the Range of Motion of your neck’s rotation by slowly turning your head all the way to the left. Notice how far it goes. Then turn your head all the way to the right and see how far it goes to the right. Repeat this again to both sides, noticing where you feel the limitation of motion.

Then, do a neck retraction, and keep the neck in a “pulled back” position. With the head pulled back, once again, slowly turn your head all the way to the left. Notice if it turns further. Repeat to the right. Notice where you feel the limitation of motion.

Next, jut your head forward (like a turtle), and once again turn your head all the way to the left and right. Most people find that an exaggerated forward head posture significantly restricts their neck rotation.

When the head is back and normally balanced over the torso, most people with adaptive forward head posture notice an increase in the neck’s range of motion (RoM). When the head is forward, the stressed joints of the neck restrict rotation. When the head is pulled back and balanced over the torso, the spinal joints are unlocked, allowing the neck to rotate normally. When there has been adaptive shortening of the neck muscles, these tight muscles can now be felt stretching with full neck rotation.

This article is the next in a series on integrating Managed Care, insurance, and personal pay in a practice treating patients for AcuteCare, RehabCare and WellnessCare. If you agree with the Patient Choice philosophy of care, and believe this is the intelligent path for our profession, I’d like to hear from you. Direct your email to DrWeiniger@BodyZone.com.