Living in a right-handed world has a dramatic effect on our posture.
Even if you’re a left-handed person, the human body is naturally biased to the right side. To begin with, none of us are symmetrical and the location of our organs is a good reminder of this fact. The liver is a large organ located on the right side of the body. The right lung has three lobes while the left only has two. Factor in everyday patterns and habits such as the placement of the mouse for your computer, door handles, even traffic patterns, games, and sports, and you’d be hard-pressed to move through the world without a significant bias to the right.
The effect this has on our posture cannot be understated. With an unconscious tendency toward the right side of the body, strength is developed through repetitive motion. This leads to further complications as we repeatedly rely on the right side of the body to bear weight more often, sitting, standing, leaning, reaching, even relaxing on the couch, which often leads to pain. I see this all the time in my practice. Everything from knee and hip pain to chronic low back pain and more, all originating from a shift in the pelvis and a weakened core.
The good news is the key to lasting healing is awareness.
At the Postural Restoration Institute (PRI) we are reminded there are three tethers that help offset the tendencies that pull us to the right side. You might be surprised to learn they are the left molars, the left obliques/abdominals, and the left hamstring. By loosening any of these, the tendency will always be to succumb to the internal and external forces that take us out of balance causing chronic pain and postural dysfunction.
By becoming aware of the challenges of living in a right-biased world we can grow in our understanding of the body and the forces acting upon it. Whether you’re experiencing chronic pain as the result of an injury or some unknown origin, I can help. On my website, you’ll find videos that teach quick and easy exercises you can do to relieve pain. You’ll also find articles that explain in more detail why the integrated physical therapy I do works. You don’t have to live with chronic pain. Visit our website to learn how we can work together to address what’s really causing the problem.
