Posture - my thoughts. Main muscles of movement.

[LeighBlyth]

A couple more images to illustrate the importance of the 5 main muscles of movement to our posture and state of body alignment and balance.

neutral-spine-positioning-main-muscles-movement.jpg

The 5 main muscles of movement and a "neutral spine" position. (pelvic floor muscles not seen from this view)

The rectus abdominis muscles connect the pelvis to the chest. When they are fully active and elongated (aligning the linea alba) they 'take the strain' allowing the the back muscles and spine to be better positioned. (Our vertebrae are there to protect the spinal cord - they are not a set of blocks that keep us upright).

The gluteus maximus, the power-house muscles at the posterior pelvis affect the positioning of the lumbar spine and sacrum.

The rectus femoris align the hip and knee joints when fully active, correctly positioning the leg to the torso.

The trapezius muscles are responsible for the positioning of the thoracic and cervical vertebrae and the alignment of the upper body (attaching to our midline nuchal and supraspinous ligaments)

nuchal-ligament-isolated.jpg