Direct Neuromuscular Technique in Manual Medicine II. Dualistic Kinematic Spinal Model: A Hypothesis

Summary

A hypothetical model is presented in which spinal kinematics are interpreted as the result of a dualistic pattern consisting of two different available chains of motion in the spine.

Movement at the intervertebral space can be envisaged as behaving like a combination of concave and convex articulations. This results in a composite saddle-shaped articulation model, described as a dualistic spinal complex. It is argued that both practical and theoretical aspects make such a model preferable to the ‘vertebron’ of Junghanns¹.

Treatment of functional disturbances of spinal mobility by manipulation or mobilisation may be more effective if it corresponds to these dualistic patterns of translation.

Key Words::

• spinal kinematics
• dualistic
• neuromuscular technique
• vertebron