The Universal Compensatory Pattern

The typical human body is asymmetrical in both structure and function. Contributing significantly to these asymmetries is the body’s patterns of musculoskeletal compensation for the presence of two chronic cranial distortion patterns: a Right Torsion and a Left Lateral Strain. These cranial and musculoskeletal patterns are universally present and appear to result from a retained Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR).

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The ATNR is a primitive reflex which emerges in utero and is important for the infant’s neurological and motor developments. It is initiated by the proprioceptors of the upper cervical vertebrae when the head is turned to the left or right. When the head is turned to either side, the tone of the flexor and extensor muscle groups of the upper and lower extremities is altered. On the side which the head is turned toward, the tone of the extensor muscle groups of the upper and lower extremities is increased and the tone of the flexor muscle groups of the upper and lower extremities is decreased. On the side which the head is turned away from, the tone of the extensor muscle groups of the upper and lower extremities is decreased, and the tone of the flexor muscle groups of the upper and lower extremities is increased. Bobath (1) attributes these findings to Magnus (1924) and other animal researchers.

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A change in the tone of a muscle results in a change in its function. An increase in the tone of a muscle generally results in its facilitation (strengthening); a decrease in tone generally results in its inhibition (weakening). Manual muscle testing and other techniques derived from Applied Kinesiology indicate that the head-turned-left ATNR pattern is generally present, even when the head is in a neutral position (not turned to the left). An upper cervical fascial bias may be responsible for this ATNR phenomena.

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According to Pope (2), the fetus spends a large portion of its time during the third trimester of pregnancy in a longitudinal twist in which the head and right shoulder are twisted to the left and the pelvis is twisted to the right. He points out that this twist could result in the left fascial bias of the A/O region and the right facial bias of the pelvic region seen in the Common Compensatory Pattern (CCP). These fascial biases are also seen in the cranial Left Lateral Strain. The presence of a left upper-cervical fascial bias might also provide a constant stimulus for the head-turned-left ATNR.

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The combined global musculoskeletal compensatory patterns produced by the Right Torsion and Left Lateral Strain components of the Universal Pattern include a lateral tipping of the sacrum to the right in the coronal plane and a compensatory spinal rotational scoliosis with four opposing curves. The lumbar curve is convex to the right with a right rotation of the lumbar vertebrae. In addition, the Left Lateral Strain produces a shearing of both the cranium and the pelvis in the horizontal plane, with the left side moving anteriorly and the right side moving posteriorly.

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Manual muscle testing in the supine and prone positions generally reveals a global imbalance in the function of paired muscles, with one testing strong (facilitated) and the other testing weak (inhibited). This muscle imbalance, which may be the result of the scoliotic curves, involves not only the flexor and extensor muscles described above, but also adductors, abductors, internal rotators, and external rotators. Other applied kinesiology evaluation procedures (Challenge and Therapy Localization) can be used to demonstrate that paired muscles of mastication and eye movements are also involved in this global muscular imbalance.

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When the chronic Right Torsion and Left Lateral Strain cranial distortion patterns have been removed by the treatment techniques in CranioStructural Integration (CSI), turning the head right or left no longer initiates the ATNR and its compensatory musculoskeletal patterns and the above symptoms are immediately resolved.

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Chiropractors, osteopaths, physical therapists, and others use a wide variety of modalities to treat cranial, spinal, pelvic, and other neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions. However, manual muscle testing and other evaluation procedures from applied kinesiology demonstrate that the chronic cranial Right Torsion and Left Lateral Strain distortion patterns, as well as their related compensatory musculoskeletal patterns, are almost always still present in both the general and clinical populations. These findings indicate that the treatment procedures currently in general use are not effective in correcting these chronic cranial patterns.

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An explanation for the failure of traditional approaches to correct these chronic patterns may have to do with both the extent of the cranial distortions and their chronicity. The ATNR appears in utero and both the cranial and musculoskeletal patterns can be identified in infants (3). In adults these chronic cranial patterns, and their resulting chronic patterns of musculoskeletal compensation, are long-standing and require changes to the cranial soft tissue holding elements to release them.

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The resolution of these cranial patterns, and their patterns of musculoskeletal compensation, requires the application of new concepts and treatment procedures. These include adequate force (a pound, or more for some releases), and a handhold capable of applying and maintaining the forces needed to release the cranial soft tissue holding elements and realign the osseous cranial structures. The application of the cranial concepts and treatment procedures presented in CranioStructural Integration (CSI), the third workshop in our CranioSomatic Therapy series, quickly and permanently removes the chronic cranial distortion patterns. The treatment procedures can be performed in one or two sessions and do not need to be repeated.

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The elimination of the Right Torsion and Left Lateral Strain cranial distortion patterns, and their related musculoskeletal compensations, may be the key to the successful resolution of several difficult-to-resolve conditions. These cranial patterns may be the underlying etiology of DeJarnette’s SOT Categories 1, 2, and 3 described in Sacro Occipital literature (4,5). They may also be the etiology of the Common Compensatory Pattern (CCP) described by Zink and Lawson (6) in osteopathic literature. Treatment indicators for SOT category 1 and 2, and the CCP fascial preference patterns, appear to be eliminated by performing the CSI treatment procedures.

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Remember, when performing the Arm Fossa test in SOT or the fascial preferences in CCP, that if the patient turns either the eyes or head slightly to the right to look at the examiner, a temporary Left Torsion and Right Lateral Strain, along with their patterns of musculoskeletal compensation, will result. The findings of the Arm Fossae test, and Zink’s fascial preference patterns, will then be temporarily reversed and different from the Universal Compensatory Patterns.

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Willard Carver, the professional partner of chiropractic founder D. D. Palmer, described a pattern in his lectures and writings which appears to be similar to the musculoskeletal portion of the Universal Compensatory Patterns. The pattern consisted of a pelvis and sacrum rotated and tipped to the right resulting in four rotational scoliotic curves. He called this pattern “The Typical Complex Opposed Rotational Scoliosis” or just “The Typical”. He attributed this pattern to a weakness of the right sacroiliac joint. Because he found this pattern in all people and it appeared to be uncorrectable, he considered the pattern to be an evolutionary fault in human development (7, 8, 9). The Universal Compensatory Pattern cannot be correlated with the “Typical” pattern because neither manual muscle testing nor cranial procedures were in use at that time.

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References
1. Bobath, B. (1985). Abnormal Postural Reflex Activity Caused by Brain Lesions (3rd ed.). Rockville, MD: Aspen Systems Corp.
2. Pope, P. E. (2005). The common compensatory pattern: Its origin and relationship to the postural model. In E. Dalton, Eric Daltons Advanced Myofascial Techniques (pp.176-205).
Publisher: Freedom From Pain Institute

3. Hancock, G.D., Dissertation. A New Diagnostic Approach and Innovative Cranial Treatment Procedures for Chronic Neuromusculoskeletal Patterns: A Manual and Contextual Essay. Union Institute & University: Cincinnati, OH; 2011. 
4. DeJarnette, M. B. Sacro Occipital Technic. Nebraska City, NE: Author; 1984.
5. Monk, R. Sacro Occipital Technique: SOT Manual 2006.  Sparta, NC: SOTO-USA; 2006.
6. Zink, JG & Lawson, WB. An osteopathic structural evaluation and functional interpretation of the soma. Osteopathic Annals. May 1979; 7(5): 208-214.

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