There’s a weight bearing arch in the pelvis, do you see it? It’s where the bones are the thickest, leading us to the idea that thick bones are the body’s response to load. It’s a natural and adaptive response. Parts of the body that carry weight or receive impact on a regular basis will lay down more bone tissue to accommodate and strengthen them. This can work for or against us. In a properly functioning body, the bones will be thickest through their core. In a less efficiently functioning body, the bones will thicken away from their core, an example of this could be a bunion on one of our toes. Our bodies are constantly fluctuating and adapting to how we load them. Some adaptations are positive and some can be negative. I’ve seen people with debilitating bunions on their feet and toes. When they work at walking and standing in a more balanced way, the bunions begin to disappear. It takes a few months and there can be some genetic factors that make it more challenging. Do you see the possibility?
Look at the thickest parts of the bones in the image above. Can you make out the arch? Go back to a previous blog from February 4th 2021. It’s called, Weight bearing down the spine, pelvis and hips while sitting, standing and squatting. The arch is superimposed over the image. Follow the arch down the spine, across the sacrum, ischium and hips and down the powerful leg bones or into the sit bones, then come back here to see if it looks more clear.
The spine and pelvis were designed to bear and disperse weight. Notice how the femur bones angle in from the hips toward the knees. The leg bones don’t go straight down. It’s really one big arch making us structurally sound. Keep this powerful arch in mind. It goes all the way down to the ankles, feet and toes. We’ll talk about the ankles next.