Maciej D³uski
ART. medical service company
Rzeszow, Poland
80% of all lateral curvatures of the vertebral column, i.e. scolioses, are idiopathic scolioses of the etiology so far officially unknown. The word "idiopathic" itself means "spontaneous" in Latin. I think, that all malformations of the osteomuscular system have their reason and do not just happen by themselves.
Therefore, in the following part of this paper, I will on purpose use the word "idiopathic" in quotation marks. Medical term in Latin "pelvis scoliotica", meaning the pelvis deformed in the consequence of lateral curvature of the vertebral column, could be replaced here with the term "scoliosis pelvica", which reverses the dependence of cause and effect.
On the ground of the Yumeiho method and seven-year observations we can state, that the process of formation of the so called "idiopathic" scoliosis begins already in mother`s womb and also during childbirth. Examinations of children 0.5 to 18 years old, carried out in the ART center, show irrefutably, that over 95 % of the examined children have improper arrangement of the pelvic bones. It does not mean of course that lateral curvature of the vertebral column in all those cases is immediately observable. Scoliosis formation process is complicated and depends on individual features of a child. First symptoms of scoliosis may be noticed at the age of 1 - 7 years, when we most often deal with functional - also called static - lateral curvature of the vertebral column. This is one-arched curvature, and is reversible. In all such cases a correction of the position of the pelvis caused in later examinations lack of any lateral curvature of the vertebral column. Therefore we ascertain, that correction of the pelvis arrangement, carried out by means of the Yumeiho method, has effective preventive nature unparalleled so far.
In more advanced cases, when we already deal with the so called "structural scoliosis" (i.e. fixed, irreversible), the currently applied conventional methods, such as: corrective exercise, corsets, massage or electrostimulation, do not bring more significant effects. It happens so, because the cause of scoliosis has not been eliminated. When the pelvis is in asymmetric position, it influences all the time the process of intensification of scoliosis.
As to understand properly the process of "idiopathic" scoliosis formation we should first start explaining some of the elements of biomechanics of the human skeletal system, especially of the biomechanics of the pelvis. The properly arranged pelvis is shown.
It consists basically of three parts: the right pelvic bone, the left pelvic bone and the sacral bone. The proper arrangement of those bones is symmetrical in relation to the sagittal plane. The height of the position of the hip joints acetabula in relation to that plane is equal. The basic movement, which changes position of the bones of the pelvis in relation to each other, can occur in the sacroiliac joints. Up until recently these joints were considered by the Western medicine to be immovable, but nowadays fewer and fewer physicians agree with that opinion. Such a dislocation occurs in all directions. So, when the right bone of the pelvis moves upwards (which is the most frequent), it also simultaneously rotates inward, its upper part inclines to the back and the lower moves forward. The sacral bone behaves inversely - rotates in the opposite direction. The left bone of the pelvis however moves down, turns inward, its upper part moves forward and the lower moves back. Pictures show the pelvis in different perspectives.
Red pointers indicate dislocations that have taken place and blue points show the position of the hip joints during simulated rotation. Displacement of the pelvis does not appear selectively. Within the connections with upper and lower part of the skeletal system displacements also occur. And so - respectively - in the junction of the sacral bone with lumbar part of the vertebral column, the 5th lumbar vertebra turns consistently with the rotation of the sacral bone, whereas the vertebrae above rotate in the opposite direction.
It happens so probably because the connection between the sacral bone and the 5th vertebra is stronger than that between the 4th and the 5th vertebrae. This situation also partially explains the occurrence of rotation of vertebrae in lateral curvature of the vertebral column (the so called rotoscoliosis). The junction between the pelvis and the lower extremities reveals an abnormality, which lies in improper position of capitula of the femoral bones in relation to acetabula of the hip joints.
In a comparative examination of lower extremities carried out in prone position, shortening of the right leg in relation to the left one will be clearly visible.
It happens so, because the acetabulum of the right hip joint together with the right bone of the pelvis shifts upwards, forwards and medially, pulling in the same direction the right lower limb. Blue points in picture show points of support of the hip joints in the case described above.
Examination both of the position of the pelvis and of the lower extremities should be carried out first of all in a prone position, since in this position the pelvis is under no influence of any forces operating along the vertical axis of the system. In such an examination increased muscular tone on the left side of the lumbar part of the vertebral column is often noticed, what suggests a tendency to lateral bending of the vertebral column, with the curve to the left. This situation changes, when a patient undergoes the examination in a standing position. The pelvis then does not show any improper positioning, as far as the height of positioning of the iliac crest is concerned. Only the raised right scapula suggests that there is a disturbance of symmetry of the skeletal system. The right - "shorter" leg, supported- in the same way as the left one - on flat floor lowers the right iliac crest to its proper position. The vertebral column, then with the horizontal base, does not show any lateral curvature. Observation of a patient`s posture reveals that he is more comfortable standing on the more loaded right leg, but after a while, unconsciously, he shifts weight onto his left leg. This situation repeats with each step during walking. Left leg, as the longer one, is more loaded. It finally results in a shift of the left hip joint forwards and medially, and what follows it, a comparative equalisation of the length of the lower extremities. Now, examination in a standing position reveals, that the pelvis on the right side is elevated in relation to the left side. The lumbar part of the vertebral column is bent to the left, whereas the silhouette - as not to lose balance - bends to the right side in the upper part, what causes one-arched curvature of the vertebral column (i.e.: functional, static, reversible) on its whole length.
In this stage of curvature the chiropractic correction of position of the pelvis and the hip joints as well as mobilisation of the lumbar part of the spine brings almost immediate effect. The pelvis is properly arranged, length of the limbs equalled and the vertebral column fixes its position in the sagittal plane.
What happens, if such a correction does not take place ?.
The loaded left leg becomes shorter than the right one as a result of even greater subdislocation of the left hip joint. The asymmetry deepens. The spine bends in an arch more and more to the left. It becomes impossible to keep the balance, so body weight is right now transferred onto the right leg and the upper part of the body turns to the left, trying to equalise the existing curvature. But it is impossible. Therefore a second arch, bent to the right, forms above the first one. This is a secondary (compensatory) curvature. We deal then with structural ("irreversible") scoliosis.
Improper loading of the vertebrae, intervertebral discs and irreversible changes in the spine cause impairment of the muscular corset, followed by progression of the curvature. The contracture of muscles is closely connected with the displacement of the pelvis, resulting in asymmetry and thus hinders all attempts to treat this pathology.
The Yumeiho method has a potential to treat the "idiopathic" scoliosis. The effect of such a treatment depends to a high degree on how advanced the disease is. The lesser curvature, the greater chance for the success. Pictures shows a slight curvature of the spine in a 10 year-old girl and the cured curvature after a series of 20 procedures of the Yumeiho method.
Frequently, parents with children who have very advanced scoliosis come to the ART. Center. In such a situation they are send to a long-lasting therapy by means of the Yumeiho method. We have managed to cure a lot of children of that severe pathological state, but there were also children, in whom we managed only to stop progression of the curvature and patients, whom we were able only to prepare for surgical procedure (curvatures 50 - 80 degrees). Base on the grounds of our observations we have started in the ART Center a screening programme of children which is free of charge. We think, that treatment should be preceded by prevention, and prevention by information. During examination of faulty posture in children we check asymmetry of the skeletal system, correct those asymmetries in their initial stages or prescribe a series of procedures of the Yumeiho therapy. Each child treated is later obligatorily and free of charge inspected by our center every four months.
Parents are informed about problem of faulty postures during every visit, and this brings about greater awareness of scoliosis and the Yumeiho method.
When an 18 month-old child walks around a table, holding to it, only to the left side and is not able to walk to the right, it may indicate the displacement of the pelvis and shortening of the left extremity.
When an 8 year-old child sits at a desk and tucks his right leg, placing right foot under right buttock, it means, that in a natural way he makes a compensatory pad under the displaced right pelvis.
Those observations, and many more, which we are trying to popularise also in the media, result in greater awareness of the public and help early prevention of the serious pathological state that "idiopathic" scoliosis is.
Undoubtedly a question about the origin of the pelvic displacement arises.
Probably it is caused by asymmetric arrangement of mother`s pelvis. Life of a new human being begins within the pelvis. Our studies showed in a large percentage, that children in whom displacement of the pelvis was not ascertained, have no serious health problems and their mothers have also properly arranged pelvis. Also most of our adult patients, in whom we had permanently corrected the pelvis before pregnancy, delivered children with completely symmetric pelvis. Although the mechanism of deformation of the pelvis is not completely clear (there are a few theories), the necessity of prevention of lateral curvature of the vertebral column may be corrected in the mother-to-be and then we are almost totally confident of preventing the child from inheriting the same condition.
