Postural analysis is a major source of information in applied kinesiology. It is one of three methods for quickly locating probable muscle dysfunction. It is used in combination with TS line evaluation and meridian therapy localization, discussed later. Use of these three sources of information conserves time in initial exami
nation and helps locate major areas of disturbance.
The use of a plumb line is recommended for static evaluation. The accompanying stick figures schemati
cally represent distortions that occur from single muscle imbalance. Evaluating single muscles is a simplistic way of evaluating posture; however, it is valuable when one is first observing the muscular correlation to postural imbalance.
When there is postural evidence of muscular im
balance and manual muscle testing does not reveal it,
2-1.
consider antagonist muscles possibly being hypertonic, or the body's compensatory mechanisms attempting to regain balance. As one becomes more familiar with applied kinesiology, postural imbalances can readily be explained in nearly all cases.
The patient's movements often reveal muscle dysfunction. For example, if a patient has a weak right sternocleidomastoid and strong left one, he can get up from a supine position more easily if he turns his head to the right to align the strong left sternocleidomastoid to raise the head from the table. One may see a simi
lar rotational motion of the patient when the oblique abdominal muscles are strong on one side and weak on the other. Many motions are very revealing, such as using the hands on the knees to aid weak quadri
ceps when rising from a chair.
2-2.
VIEWED AP
2---3. Toe turn-in on weak psoas side.
P ronation of foot tendency. Pelvis raises and lumbars deviate to tight psoas side.
VIEWED PA
2-6. Pelvis elevation on side of glu
teus maximus weakness. Leg and foot internally rotated; some loss of lateral knee stability.
VIEWED PA
2-4. Right quadratus lumborum weak. Pelvis level, right 12th rib ele
vated and left lumbar curved.
VIEWED PA
2-7. Right gluteus medius weak.
Right pelvis, shoulder, and head all el
evated.
VIEWED PA
2-5. Right piriformis weak, left hy
pertonic. Left foot turns out.
VIEWED PA
2-8. C-curvature on side of weak sacrospinalis. Shoulder, head eleva
tion and low hip on side of weakness.
In prone position, weak sacrospinalis is atonic.
VIEWED PA
2-9. Left tensor fascia lata weak.
Genu varus and pelvic elevation on weak side. Gluteus maximus also aids the knee support.
VIEWED PA
2-12. Tibialis anterior weak on right.
Ankle pronation or pes planus. Prob
lem compounded if psoas allows inter
nal leg rotation.
VIEWED PA
2-10. Left adductors weak. Genu varus on weak side. Pelvis elevation on opposite side.
VIEWED PA
2-13. Weak peroneus group on left allows pes cavus or supination.
2-11. Weak sartorius and/or gracilis.
Genu valgus - also affects AP balance of pelvis.
2-14. Medial hamstrings weak, allow external foot rotation. Lateral ham
string (biceps femoris) allows internal foot rotation.
VIEWED AP
2-15. Weak rectus abdominis allows separation of pelvis and thoracic cage.
If bilateral, a lumbar lordosis develops.
VIEWED PA
2-18. Weak left upper trapezius.
Shoulder low on side of weakness.
Head tilt away from side of weakness.
Usually secondary tightness on oppo
site side.
VIEWED PA
2-16. Weak right transverse abdom
in is. Lateral abdominal bulge and pos
sible scoliosis. Abdominal bulge is best seen with patient doing sit-up.
VIEWED PA
2-19. Weak right lower trapezius. El
evated scapula, kyphotic dorsal spine and forward roll of shoulder.
2-17. Weak latissimus dorsi on right.
High shoulder and head level if other muscles are not involved. Upper trape
zius involvement can easily confuse the pattern.
VIEWED PA
2-20. Weak rhomboids on right allow scapula to sag and head to rotate to
ward side of weakness.
VIEWED PA
2-21. Weak serratus anticus on right allows scapula to wing away from tho
racic cage.
VIEWED PA
2-24. Subscapularis and other inter
nal rotators (teres major, anterior del
toid, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi) when weak allow external rotation or the palm to face forward.
VIEWED PA
2-22. Weak serratus anticus with sec
ondary rhomboid contraction. Less winging of the scapula.
VIEWED PA
2-25. Neck externsor and/or flexor group weakness causes lateral flexion of neck.
VIEWED PA
2-23. Weak right teres minor and/or infraspinatus with other external rota
tors (posterior deltoid, supraspinatus) allow internal rotation with hand fac
ing palm posteriorly.
VIEWED PA
2-26. Sternocleidomastoid weak on right. If tilt is due to SCM only, head rotation will be to side of weak SCM.
2-27. Weak abdominals fail to keep pubes and anterior thoracic cage ap
proximated. Lordosis of lumbar spine and facet jam result.
2--30. Weak sartorius and/or gracilis fails to support anterior pelvis. Poste
rior pelvic imbalance results. Correlate with possible posterior ilium sublux
ation.
2-28. Hamstrings if weak allow ante
rior tilt of pelvis, lumbar lordosis, and facet jam. Correlate with possible pos
terior ischium subluxation.
2-31. Rectus femoris weakness al
lows posteriority of pelvis and loss of lumbar curve.
2-29. Gluteus maxim us provides posterior pelvic, lateral knee support.
Weakness contributes to lumbar lordo
sis and facet syndrome, plus knee in
stability.
2--32. Forward lean is present in so
leus weakness due to poor posterior tibial support.
2-33. Bilateral psoas weakness al
lows loss of lumbar curve.
2-36. Lack of anterior support of knee by weak quadriceps causes knee hyperextension and posterior pelvic tilt.
2-34. Weak lower trapezius fails to support thoracic spine, and kyphosis results.
2-37. Knee hyperextension when popliteus is weak.
2-35. Forward head position from weak cervical extensors.
2-38. Hyperextension of knee is compensatory for weak gastrocne
mius.
2-39. Weakness of triceps brachii causes elbow to be in excessive flexion. Evaluation must consider possibility of overdevelopment of biceps brachii. Illustration exaggerated.
2-40. Weak biceps brachii causes elbow to be straight or in extension. Illustration exaggerated.