An Attribute of Muscles and The Center of Human Balance
The governing factor that sets and maintains the length of a muscle is one of repetition and degree. When a muscle is engaged in repetitive movement, the length to which it is stretched developes as a standard. If a muscle is habitually stretched beyond its standard, a new standard will be established. Likewise, if the movement of a muscle is restricted so that the length of its stretching is shortened, the muscle will conform to this new standard. this is why an indiviual in a sedentary lifestyle will find his range of flexibility affected over time. Conversely, the extreme flexibilty found in some world-class athletes demonstrates the capacity of muscles to adjust as guided. Objects need three points of reference to be stable. Human beings, who live on a surface, in an enviroment of gravity, hold themselves erect with the tops of the two femurs (left and right) and the point where the vertebral column exits the pelvic area. these three points form the center of human balance. Ironically, our sense of balance is located within our head, which is why (when our backs ache) we have no sense of being "off balance," when we really are. By manipulating the points of this triangular center, one can create a corrective tension within the pelvis to conteract what could be termed a "negative bias" that has established itself throughout the body. Since the pelvis provides the foundation for the vertebral column it is the focus of this therapy.
How Balance was Lost
The pelvis is not composed of one bone, but several. When a functional difference in the length of the legs causes the pelvis to be higher on one side than the other, this set of bones twists as a unit. This is called pelvic torque. As the set twists, the sacrum (which is the base of the vetebral column) moves out of its intended position both horizontally and vertically. Given this situation the remainder of the vertebral column, carry the weight of the upper extremities, must compensate in order to hold itself erect. This compensation further aggravates the twisting in the pelvis as the weight distribution upon it is no longer evenly displaced. In this way, the musculoskeletal system has lost its originally intended position. It is now caught in a vicious cycle that perpetuates itself and ever increases the misalignment. the key to healing the system is to employ the same forces involved in this process of deterioration.
The Essence of Isogai Therapy
Leveraging the femur head with an outwardly rotating motion, its side of the pelvis will be lifed upward, creating a functionally longer leg. If the femur head is rotated inwardly this will cause its side of the pelvis to drop downward, creating a functionally shorter leg. Using the two femurs to raise and lower their corresponding sides, and by addressing the fundamentally necessary third point of balance, one willfully establishes a corrective tension at the foundation of the system that is in direct opposition to the existing negative bias. To maintain the three points of balance in proper relationship to one another, one must do daily activities like walking, sitting and lifting in a prescribed way. Every activity has a correct way to be done. If not done in the newly instructed way, the body through force of habit, will carry its weight as was done before, again reinforcing the negative bias. Therefore it is imperative that one strictly adhere to the instructions laid out in the therapy. Throughout the day one can willfully guide the body as instructed. Learning to use the length of the femur as a lever, one initiates and maintains the corrective tension. During sleep or while lying down to rest, The three points of balance are maintained by tying the legs tightly and placing a small firm pillow behind the lower lumbar. In this way, the corrective tension is maintained while lying on one's back.
How It Works
Throughout the day the muscles are properly stretched and the corrective movements are followed, forcing the musculoskeletal system to "catch its balance," initially only minimally re-adjusting. As one pushes oneself toward accomplishing the goal of correct posture, new positions and new muscle standards are established and then re-established. Because the muscles in the newly adjusted system are made to work differently, their lenght will adjust accordingly. The conscious effort of the student is primarily focused on maintaining a corrective tension in the triangular center of balance. The musculoskeletal system as a whole, "catching its balance, is working out the details. (The phrase "catching its balance" refers to the continuous process of the body balancing itself within the force of gravity while sitting or standing on a surface.) By willfully initiating and maintaining a corrective tension in the pelvic area, the physical laws involved in human balance begin to work for you instead of against you. HOWEVER, while initiating corrective measures in the pelvis, the negative bias in the upper part of the body still exists. And as stated earlier, an uneven weight distribution results in pelvic torque (the bias in the pelvis that you are trying to counter). This coupled with the inherent quality of a muscle to return to its formerly established length or standard, makes maintaining this corrective tension in the pelvis very difficult. Never the less, it can be done. When the correct relationship among the three points of the triangular center of human balance is established and maintained, eventually the integrity of the entire musculoskeletal system is restored. Success using IDT depends on the students' hard work and dedication to purpose. Taking the musculoskeletal system out of its extreme state can relieve pain very quickly. However, if the system remains fundamentally unchanged, it will return to its previous unhealthy state.