The diaphragm. More then you think. Introduction

According to Hodges and Gandevia (2000) the activity of the human diaphragm is coordinated for both respiratory and postural, although a principal muscle of inspiration; Hodges Butler, McKenzie and Gandevia (1995) suggest that the diaphragm is also active when attempting to control forces of the spine when thrown into a state of agitated confusion by reactive movements of a limb (Park and Wang, 2012)

Brumagne, Polspoel, Troosters and McConnell (2010) add to this by highlighting that with a sustained challenge to the posture of the trunk by repetitive movement of an upper limb the diaphragm is still modulated to maintain respiration but also develops tonically at the frequency of limb movement, suggesting that that there may be are at least two drives to diaphragm motoneurons during limb movement, one related to inspiration and the other to the movement and synergistically assisting in the mechanical stabilization of the spine via increased intra-abdominal pressure (Gandevia, Butler, Hodges and Taylor, 2006). This correlates to Lindgren (2011) findings who states that

1.      The diaphragm is under voluntary control.

2.      The diaphragm can still perform its stabilization task independent of breathing

3.      The diaphragm can perform its breathing function at a lowered position to be able to provide spinal support while still breathing   

The question is how can we train the diaphragm? the next part will explain this.

How can you speak about movement if you dont know the rules?

Movement Maturation Guildlines

Movement Responses: Movement responses progress from involuntary to controlled. Muscles develop according to stimuli involved in each activity.

Gross and Fine Motor Development: Large muscles develop before fine motor skills, and affect the performance and proficiency of coordination.

Central Nervous System (CNS) Maturation: CNS controls the actions necessary for the execution of motor skills. Maturation progresses in two directions: cephalocaudal and proximo-distal.

Cephalocaudal Progression: Maturation beginning with head control and culminating with gaining control over the upper and lower extremities (head down).  

Proximo-distal Progression: Maturation begins at the body’s midline and progresses out through the extremities (Trunk out).

Possible Disability Impact on CNS Maturation: Delayed physiological maturation in general is capable of manifesting in delayed cephalocaudal and proximo-distal progression development.

Spaital Generalization in Human Movement

According to Shadmehr and Mussa-Ivaldi (1994) and later by Gandolfo, Mussa-Ivaldi and Bizzi, (1996) while learning a motor skill at any given region with a working space  the central nervous system generalizes the acquired skill to the areas that closely simulate  where the action training occurred. This restricted spatial generalization is an important ability in order to avoid the need to train for all possible situations, which could take an infinite amount of time. For example Shadmehr and Mussa-Ivaldi (1994) suggested that when the control of limb movements is learned, the acquired knowledge about the environment and the intrinsic limb parameters must be encoded in the nervous system. However this learned information is not restricted only to the specific movement but is generalized for other movements that are similar (Matsuoka ,1998) The transfer of learned information according to Shadmehr and Mussa-Ivaldi(1994) is termed  generalization and it has been shown to be organized spatially which in-turn has shown to be restricted within the neighbourhood areas of the workspace (Gandolfo, et al, 1996).

Fascia:The New Biomechanics of Human Movement

The fascia system’s ability to transmit forces is an important part in human biomechanics. Though the tensional load bearing function of tendons and ligaments has never been in question; Huijing (2009) revealed that via their epimysia a significant portion of their force is transmitted laterally positioned tissues such as to adjacent synergistic muscles and to the antagonistic muscles. Recent ultrasound based measurements (Fukunaga, 2002) indicated that fascia tissues are commonly used for a dynamic energy storage a catapult action which occurs during oscillatory movements such as walking, hopping or running. During such movements the supporting skeletal muscles contract more isometrically while the loaded fascia elements lengthen and shorten like elastic springs (Fukunaga . 2002). This phenomenon may occur due to the fascia network serving as a sensory organ and to its densely innervated myelinated sensory nerve endings which are assumed to serve a proprioceptive function (Schleip 2003). In fact the fascia contains 10 times as many sensory spinals then in muscle tissue (Stecco, 2009) all to inform the CNS of the shear forces, pressure and tension associated with movement.