Gyrotonic Training: A Personal Journey to Spinal Health

The most significant injuries I sustained were to my neck. Following basic recovery, I began physical therapy. In retrospect, the chosen treatment was not ideal for my specific injury.

• Incorrect Traction: The physical therapist prescribed a traction device that lifted my head straight up. This would have been appropriate for a classic whiplash injury where the neck is thrown backward. However, unbeknownst to me at the time, my vertebrae had shifted forward, not backward.
• Lack of Chiropractic Care: At 19, I lacked knowledge about spinal health and chiropractic care. A chiropractor would have focused on realigning my vertebrae to restore the natural lordotic curvature of the neck.

Understanding My Cervical Spine: A Kyphotic Curve

A healthy cervical spine exhibits a lordotic, or "inward," curvature of approximately 14 degrees (measured from C1 to C7). My neck, however, shows a reversed, kyphotic, or "outward" curvature.

• Reversed Curve: The top of my cervical spine (C1) is positioned more forward than the bottom (C7).
• Significant Deviation: My neck's curvature has been measured at a 5-degree kyphotic curve, meaning it is 19 degrees from normal.
• Disc and Bone Damage: The spaces for my intervertebral discs are reduced, and the bones themselves are misshapen due to the irregular forces they've endured since 1985.

While my neck suffered the most, my thoracic (mid-back) and lumbar (lower back) areas were also impacted by the accident.

Thoracic Spine: A Curvature to the Right

My thoracic spine, while the least affected of the three spinal segments, is not straight.

• Lateral Curvature: As if looking from behind, my spine bends from left to right. This curvature aligns with the impact being on the left side of my car, pushing my body to the right.
• Impact on Movement: While I don't experience nervous system problems from this, it does limit my spinal ranges of motion, particularly lateral flexion (side bends). Bending to the left is easier than bending to the right, where I feel a distinct restriction.

It's unclear if my lumbar spine issues are directly from the accident or a long-term consequence of my misaligned neck. However, I did experience nerve problems in this area.

• Subtle Damage: The damage to my lumbar spine isn't as visually obvious as my neck or thoracic spine on X-rays. However, there's a significant difference in the space between the 5th lumbar vertebrae (L5) and the sacrum when compared to a healthy spine.
• L4 Dermatome Numbness: The nerve issue I experienced was caused by compression between L4 and L5. This manifested as annoying numbness on the skin of both thighs, consistent with the L4 dermatome (an area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve).

I began Gyrotonic training not for my nerve problems, but because of the incredible feeling it gave my hip joints. It wasn't a sudden fix, but rather a slow, steady progression.

• Spinal Decompression: Moving all my joints through their full ranges of motion, with resistance and purposeful patterns, improved the condition of my intervertebral discs through a process called imbibition. I was decompressing my spine without even realizing I was compressed.
• Increased Height: I remember noticing I could see higher over my refrigerator. My roommate at the time even claimed I grew three inches, though I believe it was closer to one inch—still a visually obvious change.
• Nerve Problem Resolution: With this newfound "expansion" (the system is called the Gyrotonic Expansion System), my nerve problems simply disappeared.
  • No More "Dead Arm" Episodes: I've never experienced the terrifying "dead arm" feeling again.
  • No Numbness or Tingling: I no longer have numbness or tingling in my arms or hands, and the skin on both thighs has normal sensation.
  • Chiropractor's Surprise: Even my former chiropractor in Atlanta was surprised I didn't show any signs or symptoms of nerve compression after reviewing my X-rays.

Every body is unique, and I'm not making any promises or claims. My experience is personal. However, even with degenerated or bulging discs, Gyrotonic training can be beneficial.

• Consult Your Doctor: Orthopedic doctors often recommend conservative movement for disc problems, which is understandable. If you have disc issues and are considering Gyrotonic training, always check with your doctor first. If they are unfamiliar with the method, refer them to the trainer you are considering working with.
• Listen to Your Body: Follow the fundamental rules of any physical training:
  • If it increases pain, stop.
  • If it increases numbness and/or tingling, stop.
  • This doesn't mean stopping forever, but rather checking in with your trainer and re-evaluating exercise choices. Sometimes, an exercise may need to be regressed (modified to be less intense).

Movement is vital for life. Intentional, focused movement of your spine helps maintain the health of your discs and the muscles that support your spine. So, keep moving!