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Arthur M. Strauss, DDS
How Breathing Is Related To Knee and Hip Problems
Arthur M. Strauss, DDS
. http://www.amstraussdds.com

How Breathing Is Related To Knee and Hip Problems

The answer is that they share a common root cause, which is the unique anatomy of the throat (oral pharynx) of human species. It is an intersection between the breathing passage from the nostrils to the lungs and the food passage from the mouth to the stomach.

This allows us to breathe through our mouths, speak and enunciate through movements of our tongue and still swallow through the tongue. It also allows the tongue to enter and fully or partially block the throat, including the airway. This is a most immediate threat to human survival.

My articles in Your Health Magazine (YH) since 2007 have addressed many aspects of this in their explanation of how OSA is jaw-tongue-throat relationship to airway patency, which is anatomical and, it therefore, exists around-the-clock. It is associated with anatomic balance of the body as seen in “ease” of swallowing, speaking and breathing. It also impacts and is impacted by physiology and biochemistry in modifying and/or compensating for compromised airway anatomy at any point in time and over time.

I have discussed, how through the study of “Oral Systemic Balance” Farrand C. Robson, D.D.S. has observed the three ways the body compensates for impaired oral functions of speaking, swallowing and breathing. They are

An increased state of “fight or flight” as adrenaline like affects

Postural changes that often appear to be characterized by forward head posture

Clenching and grinding of the teeth, that leads to most TMJ symptoms.

In these YH articles I addressed the postural compensation and its musculo-skeletal impact upon the whole body. I even provided, for the reader, a way to personally observe these compensations by forcing themselves to stand in an ideal posture, while awake (daytime apnea) to show how swallowing, speaking and breathing became more difficult and adrenaline-type “stress” sensations increased. And, how putting their mandible (lower-jaw) as far forward as possible, and pulling the tongue forward from the back of the throat provides some relief.

From this, all three compensations are observable; especially how the body posturally adapts to provide more room behind the tongue and the back of the throat and supporting vertebral column to ensure adequate airflow, thus survival.

The long term impact of these three dimensional compromises in ideal body posture upon the musculo-skeletal pain, however, I have not shared my perspective upon its impact upon the elliptically not-spherically shaped weight bearing joints of the body and the incidence of knee and hip surgery leading to joint replacement that also appears to be increasing in prevalence in “modern” society associated with “posture”.

I believe that cooperation between dental, orthopedic surgery, physical therapy and chiropractic researchers can bring this information to light and lead to integrated care that reverses this trend.

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