Tag Archives: gait reflex movement

Effects of Scoliosis on Gait Reflex

Scoliosis is not a spinal problem, the curved spine is the result, it’s initial cause is related to the gait reflex and NOT practitioners, unlike their medical counterparts, do not limit their focus on treating the spinal vertebrae. In fact, it has been discovered that the spinal bones have nothing to do with the onset of the condition. In the research it has been found that the curvature of the spine results from two neurological reflex systems which have basically gone haywire and the spine is merely caught in between. Therefore, trying to treat or make the spine straight surgically will not assist in curing the condition known as scoliosis. The spine is not the root or cause of the problem and so old type measures taken will be ineffective. Therefore, one has to look inward to the systems within the body that will converge to create homeostasis and that is neurological. Once a gait system begins to malfunction then it could present itself in the physical as pain if not corrected, as in the case of scoliosis.

Reflex Systems Gait and Scoliosis

For any living organism there are basic innate mechanisms which are vital to their survival, among these are feeding, fight/flight and reproduction. Each survival mechanism is intrinsically tied to the varied neurological reflex systems within an organism. When these are not functioning correctly they are apt to cause an imbalance within the body affecting other structures and disrupting the body’s equilibrium and so, occurrences such as scoliosis will manifest.  In this instance it was found that scoliosis and reproduction are causally related to the gait reflexes.

Reproduction and Scoliosis

Whether congenital or idiopathic scoliosis, the condition typically manifests by the age of 12, as early as 2 and as a late as 14 during the period where the spine grows rapidly and sexual maturity is taking place, preparing the body for reproduction. Reproduction is essential to any species, as through this process they are able to produce offspring, thereby preserving the species.  Within this framework, there is an innate reflex system which is central to the reproduction process, the Cloacal Centring Reflex is the lower part of the Gait Reflex Mechanism.

From the moment that an individual is conceived a sexual mechanism is initiated, which plays a role in determining the sex of the foetus. Notably all foetuses are conceived as females. Male characteristics are then imposed on the foetus to produce a male child. As such, male and females will have similar primary functions. However, their mount positions will differ during sexual activity, as the female’s is located in the posterior (behind) and the male’s located in the anterior (front), which signifies where the Cloacal Centring Reflex is dominant in each sex – the posterior for the female and the anterior for the male.

Thus the reflex is responsible for sexual centering, that is, the female to the male and the male to the female, and is thought to be involved in the coordination of the leg, pelvis and trunk muscles while partaking in sexual activity. The reflex itself is only highly active at certain intervals during the reproduction development process as it operates cyclically. If the cycle’s rhythm is disrupted or is not fully mature, then the process would be compromised and even the most minor of traumas will cause an imbalance in the centering of the trunk muscles to the leg and pelvic muscles. This will lead to other systems being affected such as the reactive muscle system, which incorporates the body’s gait reflex movements.

Reactive Muscle System and Scoliosis

Our bodies are just like any other machinery once one component or system goes awry and is not effectively fixed, it will impact on and impede the functioning of other systems. Where the reproduction system “malfunctions” and sexual activity is impacted, we have to look further to see where other issues arise. The second phase in the development of scoliosis, from the perspective of a NOT practitioner involves the reactive muscle system and the way in which our muscles operate especially during gait reflex movement.

Reactive muscles Gait and Scoliosis

Reactive muscle movement is best depicted through gait (style or manner of walking) reflex movement where the muscles of the body are being continuously activated (facilitated) or deactivated (defacilitated). Through a very controlled process where muscles that are needed are activated and those that are not needed are deactivated geared at ensuring that there is a smooth transfer of energy and motion. For instance, in the simple process of taking a step forward, there is the motion of lifting your leg, pushing off with the foot, moving the arm, changing the position of your head and other associated actions, muscles which would be in opposition to this motion are deactivated to not inhibit the other muscles from working. This is done through a special intact reflex activity and control, which not only manages those muscles that are in motion but also, returns the muscles to a neutral state or tone.

Muscles and the fight/flight reflex

Muscles always need to be alert and ready for fight/flight reflex activity for survival, which means though deactivated they are still partially ignited. To this end 1/3 of muscles are in the facilitation state, 1/3 in a state of relaxation and 1/3 is actually either going into a state of facilitation or deactivation. Thus a tension is maintained within the skeletal muscles so that they are constantly ready for the fight/flight reflex to activate when needed and also, prevents the muscle from being damaged (torn) or coming off the bones.

The problem with Scoliosis is that this muscle tone, instead of being a 1/3 of muscles in the facilitation state, 1/3 in a state of relaxation and 1/3 either going into a state of facilitation or deactivation, it is like 1/4 facilitation state, 1/3 relaxation and 1/2 coming or going. To this extent the muscle tone sequence is screwed up neurologically and this causes constant back pain and scoliosis pain as there is an out of sequence muscle tone in the reactive muscle system creating Gait Disorders.