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Posture: the Key to Good Health | Annette Verpillot | TEDxMontrealWomen


[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] twelve years ago my life changed forever

twelve years ago my life changed forever

twelve years ago my life changed forever a man came into my office desperate for

a man came into my office desperate for

a man came into my office desperate for help

help

help following a double knee replacement he

following a double knee replacement he

following a double knee replacement he was no longer able to stand up for more

was no longer able to stand up for more

was no longer able to stand up for more than two minutes without being an

than two minutes without being an

than two minutes without being an excruciating pain and getting up from a

excruciating pain and getting up from a

excruciating pain and getting up from a chair without the use of his cane had

chair without the use of his cane had

chair without the use of his cane had become virtually impossible he was in

become virtually impossible he was in

become virtually impossible he was in constant pain he was desperate he was

constant pain he was desperate he was

constant pain he was desperate he was angry and he was also very skeptical

angry and he was also very skeptical

angry and he was also very skeptical being a retired doctor he had consulted

being a retired doctor he had consulted

being a retired doctor he had consulted every doctor specialist and

every doctor specialist and

every doctor specialist and physiotherapist and according to him

physiotherapist and according to him

physiotherapist and according to him none of them could help I remember this

none of them could help I remember this

none of them could help I remember this moment vividly because he came into my

moment vividly because he came into my

moment vividly because he came into my office with all five of his daughters

office with all five of his daughters

office with all five of his daughters and his wife and he asked me what I

and his wife and he asked me what I

and his wife and he asked me what I could possibly do to help so I proceeded

could possibly do to help so I proceeded

could possibly do to help so I proceeded on explaining that I was going to

on explaining that I was going to

on explaining that I was going to optimize the sensory input going into

optimize the sensory input going into

optimize the sensory input going into his brain to change the way that his

his brain to change the way that his

his brain to change the way that his brain perceived where his body was in

brain perceived where his body was in

brain perceived where his body was in space and as he stood up for the first

space and as he stood up for the first

space and as he stood up for the first time pain-free and without his cane all

time pain-free and without his cane all

time pain-free and without his cane all of them broke out in tears and ran

of them broke out in tears and ran

of them broke out in tears and ran towards me it was one of the most

towards me it was one of the most

towards me it was one of the most inspiring moments I had ever felt and it

inspiring moments I had ever felt and it

inspiring moments I had ever felt and it shaped my career and my life I’m a

shaped my career and my life I’m a

shaped my career and my life I’m a pathologist but not the type of Parcher

pathologist but not the type of Parcher

pathologist but not the type of Parcher specialist that’s going to give you

specialist that’s going to give you

specialist that’s going to give you stretching exercises to loosen your

stretching exercises to loosen your

stretching exercises to loosen your muscles I’m more interested in the way

muscles I’m more interested in the way

muscles I’m more interested in the way that our brain communicates with our

that our brain communicates with our

that our brain communicates with our body and what I want to do today is

body and what I want to do today is

body and what I want to do today is challenge our definition of posture and

challenge our definition of posture and

challenge our definition of posture and the impact that it has on our lives so

the impact that it has on our lives so

the impact that it has on our lives so when I say posture specialist most of us

when I say posture specialist most of us

when I say posture specialist most of us think about standing up straight some of

think about standing up straight some of

think about standing up straight some of you are doing it right now

you are doing it right now

you are doing it right now telling her children not to slouch some

telling her children not to slouch some

telling her children not to slouch some of us might even think the

of us might even think the

of us might even think the text-messaging being on the computer all

text-messaging being on the computer all

text-messaging being on the computer all day or even walking with a heavy bag

day or even walking with a heavy bag

day or even walking with a heavy bag might be the cause of poor posture what

might be the cause of poor posture what

might be the cause of poor posture what if I told you that our posture has

if I told you that our posture has

if I told you that our posture has nothing to do with any of these things

nothing to do with any of these things

nothing to do with any of these things because guess what we can’t control our

because guess what we can’t control our

because guess what we can’t control our posture consciously our posture is

posture consciously our posture is

posture consciously our posture is controlled by the unconscious part of

controlled by the unconscious part of

controlled by the unconscious part of our brain just like heart rate and

our brain just like heart rate and

our brain just like heart rate and breathing so we can’t actually try

breathing so we can’t actually try

breathing so we can’t actually try harder to have better posture

harder to have better posture

harder to have better posture let me explain our brain is the master

let me explain our brain is the master

let me explain our brain is the master computer and our muscles respond to its

computer and our muscles respond to its

computer and our muscles respond to its commands our brain allows our muscles to

commands our brain allows our muscles to

commands our brain allows our muscles to move based on two fundamental rules our

move based on two fundamental rules our

move based on two fundamental rules our feet must be aligned on the ground and

feet must be aligned on the ground and

feet must be aligned on the ground and our eyes must be aligned with the

our eyes must be aligned with the

our eyes must be aligned with the horizon our posture is developed over

horizon our posture is developed over

horizon our posture is developed over time through our experience of the

time through our experience of the

time through our experience of the environment with our feet in our eyes

environment with our feet in our eyes

environment with our feet in our eyes from the moment that we are born we feel

from the moment that we are born we feel

from the moment that we are born we feel the ground with our feet and we see the

the ground with our feet and we see the

the ground with our feet and we see the world with our eyes this eventually

world with our eyes this eventually

world with our eyes this eventually helps us raise our head which

helps us raise our head which

helps us raise our head which strengthens our neck and back muscles to

strengthens our neck and back muscles to

strengthens our neck and back muscles to allow us to walk so when we talk about

allow us to walk so when we talk about

allow us to walk so when we talk about posture the development of our feet in

posture the development of our feet in

posture the development of our feet in our eyes is key let’s change gears for a

our eyes is key let’s change gears for a

our eyes is key let’s change gears for a second and compare our body to a Formula

second and compare our body to a Formula

second and compare our body to a Formula One car our feet represent the wheels

One car our feet represent the wheels

One car our feet represent the wheels and our eyes the steering wheel if the

and our eyes the steering wheel if the

and our eyes the steering wheel if the feet or if the wheels were misaligned or

feet or if the wheels were misaligned or

feet or if the wheels were misaligned or uneven it would be easy to understand

uneven it would be easy to understand

uneven it would be easy to understand why the car would eventually break down

why the car would eventually break down

why the car would eventually break down it would be easy to understand that the

it would be easy to understand that the

it would be easy to understand that the performance of the car was secondary to

performance of the car was secondary to

performance of the car was secondary to the state of the car well think of our

the state of the car well think of our

the state of the car well think of our body it is that Formula One car

body it is that Formula One car

body it is that Formula One car the tricky part here is that we don’t

the tricky part here is that we don’t

the tricky part here is that we don’t know that we’re misaligned we can’t

know that we’re misaligned we can’t

know that we’re misaligned we can’t imagine standing or moving in any other

imagine standing or moving in any other

imagine standing or moving in any other way than we’ve learned how to move in

way than we’ve learned how to move in

way than we’ve learned how to move in where that comes into play is when we

where that comes into play is when we

where that comes into play is when we start to feel aches and pain when our

start to feel aches and pain when our

start to feel aches and pain when our body starts breaking down but before

body starts breaking down but before

body starts breaking down but before that we might have noticed that her

that we might have noticed that her

that we might have noticed that her shoes are wearing out on evenly that our

shoes are wearing out on evenly that our

shoes are wearing out on evenly that our head is always tilted on one side or

head is always tilted on one side or

head is always tilted on one side or even that one shoulder or one hip

even that one shoulder or one hip

even that one shoulder or one hip is always lower now because these

is always lower now because these

is always lower now because these partial imbalances are common that’s 90%

partial imbalances are common that’s 90%

partial imbalances are common that’s 90% of the world’s population we come to

of the world’s population we come to

of the world’s population we come to believe that they are normal but there

believe that they are normal but there

believe that they are normal but there are not normal

are not normal

are not normal let’s talk about one area that’s

let’s talk about one area that’s

let’s talk about one area that’s essential for good posture our feet the

essential for good posture our feet the

essential for good posture our feet the wheels of a Formula One car the weight

wheels of a Formula One car the weight

wheels of a Formula One car the weight distribution on our feet tells our brain

distribution on our feet tells our brain

distribution on our feet tells our brain where our body is in space the sensory

where our body is in space the sensory

where our body is in space the sensory receptors in the skin of our foot are

receptors in the skin of our foot are

receptors in the skin of our foot are connected to the intrinsic muscles of

connected to the intrinsic muscles of

connected to the intrinsic muscles of our spine to help us fight gravity

our spine to help us fight gravity

our spine to help us fight gravity efficiently a foot imbalance is actually

efficiently a foot imbalance is actually

efficiently a foot imbalance is actually quite common 72% of us have some kind of

quite common 72% of us have some kind of

quite common 72% of us have some kind of foot imbalance and don’t know it that’s

foot imbalance and don’t know it that’s

foot imbalance and don’t know it that’s 72 percent of kids of the elderly 72

72 percent of kids of the elderly 72

72 percent of kids of the elderly 72 percent of the people in this room today

percent of the people in this room today

percent of the people in this room today are already unbalanced our tires are

are already unbalanced our tires are

are already unbalanced our tires are uneven now here is a professional

uneven now here is a professional

uneven now here is a professional cyclist who after improving her foot

cyclist who after improving her foot

cyclist who after improving her foot posture was able to reduce her Boley

posture was able to reduce her Boley

posture was able to reduce her Boley goodness which was at the cause of her

goodness which was at the cause of her

goodness which was at the cause of her knee pain in just three months now let’s

knee pain in just three months now let’s

knee pain in just three months now let’s talk about the other extremity of the

talk about the other extremity of the

talk about the other extremity of the body our eyes the way that our eyes move

body our eyes the way that our eyes move

body our eyes the way that our eyes move allows our brain to Telegraph the exact

allows our brain to Telegraph the exact

allows our brain to Telegraph the exact position of our head on our shoulders my

position of our head on our shoulders my

position of our head on our shoulders my muscle imbalance also known as

muscle imbalance also known as

muscle imbalance also known as convergence disorders is quite common

convergence disorders is quite common

convergence disorders is quite common nine people out of 10 have an eye muscle

nine people out of 10 have an eye muscle

nine people out of 10 have an eye muscle imbalance as seen here the child’s right

imbalance as seen here the child’s right

imbalance as seen here the child’s right eye left eye is unbalanced now why is

eye left eye is unbalanced now why is

eye left eye is unbalanced now why is this important well because the way that

this important well because the way that

this important well because the way that our eye moves allows us to calculate

our eye moves allows us to calculate

our eye moves allows us to calculate distances properly is the car here or

distances properly is the car here or

distances properly is the car here or here it also affects her reading and

here it also affects her reading and

here it also affects her reading and writing skills

writing skills

writing skills is it an 8 or is it a B this is where we

is it an 8 or is it a B this is where we

is it an 8 or is it a B this is where we may end up with a child that ends up

may end up with a child that ends up

may end up with a child that ends up reading the words backwards not because

reading the words backwards not because

reading the words backwards not because they see the word as backwards but

they see the word as backwards but

they see the word as backwards but because their eyes end up at the end of

because their eyes end up at the end of

because their eyes end up at the end of the word and then come back to the

the word and then come back to the

the word and then come back to the beginning and they don’t realize that

beginning and they don’t realize that

beginning and they don’t realize that that’s what’s happened and because we

that’s what’s happened and because we

that’s what’s happened and because we position our

position our

position our body according to what we see an eye

body according to what we see an eye

body according to what we see an eye muscle imbalance also caused postural

muscle imbalance also caused postural

muscle imbalance also caused postural postural and muscular imbalances over

postural and muscular imbalances over

postural and muscular imbalances over time these partial imbalances cross

time these partial imbalances cross

time these partial imbalances cross chronic pain and chronic pain causes

chronic pain and chronic pain causes

chronic pain and chronic pain causes chronic inflammation and thats dangerous

chronic inflammation and thats dangerous

chronic inflammation and thats dangerous why well because chronic inflammation is

why well because chronic inflammation is

why well because chronic inflammation is that the cause of many serious diseases

that the cause of many serious diseases

that the cause of many serious diseases like heart disease some forms of cancer

like heart disease some forms of cancer

like heart disease some forms of cancer and neurodegenerative conditions like

and neurodegenerative conditions like

and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease now here’s an eight-year-old girl who

now here’s an eight-year-old girl who

now here’s an eight-year-old girl who after improving her foot posture and her

after improving her foot posture and her

after improving her foot posture and her eye movements was able to improve her

eye movements was able to improve her

eye movements was able to improve her posture in just three weeks so when we

posture in just three weeks so when we

posture in just three weeks so when we talk about posture our feet and eyes is

talk about posture our feet and eyes is

talk about posture our feet and eyes is key so why we’re not looking at the

key so why we’re not looking at the

key so why we’re not looking at the brain when it comes to conditions like

brain when it comes to conditions like

brain when it comes to conditions like lower back pain knee pain hip pain

lower back pain knee pain hip pain

lower back pain knee pain hip pain shoulder pain cognition digestion

shoulder pain cognition digestion

shoulder pain cognition digestion problems or even chronic pain well

problems or even chronic pain well

problems or even chronic pain well because our healthcare system is not

because our healthcare system is not

because our healthcare system is not designed to prevent it is designed to

designed to prevent it is designed to

designed to prevent it is designed to manage symptoms and because no one is

manage symptoms and because no one is

manage symptoms and because no one is truly looking at the real cause of our

truly looking at the real cause of our

truly looking at the real cause of our pain our feet and our eyes our partial

pain our feet and our eyes our partial

pain our feet and our eyes our partial imbalances remain over time these

imbalances remain over time these

imbalances remain over time these partial imbalances will force us and

partial imbalances will force us and

partial imbalances will force us and prevent us from moving properly now

prevent us from moving properly now

prevent us from moving properly now there is a direct correlation between

there is a direct correlation between

there is a direct correlation between our pain our posture and our quality of

our pain our posture and our quality of

our pain our posture and our quality of life let me show you is there anyone in

life let me show you is there anyone in

life let me show you is there anyone in the audience ideally in the first few

the audience ideally in the first few

the audience ideally in the first few rows that has lower back pain right now

hi good yourself what’s your name Atena

hi good yourself what’s your name Atena Atena nice to meet you

Atena nice to meet you

Atena nice to meet you so what I’m going to do with Atena is

so what I’m going to do with Atena is

so what I’m going to do with Atena is I’m simply going to ask her to look at

I’m simply going to ask her to look at

I’m simply going to ask her to look at the tip of this pen and what I want us

the tip of this pen and what I want us

the tip of this pen and what I want us to look for is to see if one eye is

to look for is to see if one eye is

to look for is to see if one eye is having a harder time focusing on the

having a harder time focusing on the

having a harder time focusing on the target

target

target Atena you out of ten what is the pain

Atena you out of ten what is the pain

Atena you out of ten what is the pain level that you have right now ten being

level that you have right now ten being

level that you have right now ten being the most one being the least five six at

the most one being the least five six at

the most one being the least five six at this present time

this present time

this present time okay can you face the audience for me so

okay can you face the audience for me so

okay can you face the audience for me so just try to relax and here we go I’m

just try to relax and here we go I’m

just try to relax and here we go I’m going to position the pen

going to position the pen

going to position the pen look straight ahead please and look at

look straight ahead please and look at

look straight ahead please and look at the tip of the pen so we could see that

the tip of the pen so we could see that

the tip of the pen so we could see that atenas left eye is not converging

atenas left eye is not converging

atenas left eye is not converging properly now because we position our

properly now because we position our

properly now because we position our body according to what we see a 10 out

body according to what we see a 10 out

body according to what we see a 10 out we’ll have a postural imbalance in this

we’ll have a postural imbalance in this

we’ll have a postural imbalance in this case a lower shoulder let me show you

case a lower shoulder let me show you

case a lower shoulder let me show you please look straight ahead and try to

please look straight ahead and try to

please look straight ahead and try to relax

relax

relax here we go just so we could see that a

here we go just so we could see that a

here we go just so we could see that a tenez right arm is longer so I’m now

tenez right arm is longer so I’m now

tenez right arm is longer so I’m now going to proceed on stimulating I should

going to proceed on stimulating I should

going to proceed on stimulating I should say optimizing the sensory input going

say optimizing the sensory input going

say optimizing the sensory input going in at NS brain by doing simple eye

in at NS brain by doing simple eye

in at NS brain by doing simple eye exercises the first step is simply to

exercises the first step is simply to

exercises the first step is simply to draw a line on her index finger right

draw a line on her index finger right

draw a line on her index finger right over here so you have it right here

over here so you have it right here

over here so you have it right here and then I’m going to proceed on doing

and then I’m going to proceed on doing

and then I’m going to proceed on doing clockwise circles so a 1000 I’m gonna

clockwise circles so a 1000 I’m gonna

clockwise circles so a 1000 I’m gonna ask you to look straight ahead and let

ask you to look straight ahead and let

ask you to look straight ahead and let me just guide you like this give me a

me just guide you like this give me a

me just guide you like this give me a finger and I want you to focus on the

finger and I want you to focus on the

finger and I want you to focus on the line you have it so let your eyes move

all right so what I’m doing now is

all right so what I’m doing now is simple clockwise exercises clockwise for

simple clockwise exercises clockwise for

simple clockwise exercises clockwise for Atena anti-clockwise for the audience

Atena anti-clockwise for the audience

Atena anti-clockwise for the audience I’m going in and out in and out and I’m

I’m going in and out in and out and I’m

I’m going in and out in and out and I’m simply forcing her eyes to work together

simply forcing her eyes to work together

simply forcing her eyes to work together beautiful

beautiful

beautiful are you okay very good all good is your

are you okay very good all good is your

are you okay very good all good is your pain still five out of ten three four so

pain still five out of ten three four so

pain still five out of ten three four so there’s a bit of an improvement let’s

there’s a bit of an improvement let’s

there’s a bit of an improvement let’s see how her eyes are moving so we’ll do

see how her eyes are moving so we’ll do

see how her eyes are moving so we’ll do the same test as we did before so if you

the same test as we did before so if you

the same test as we did before so if you can look straight ahead and please look

can look straight ahead and please look

can look straight ahead and please look at the tip of the pen and we could see

at the tip of the pen and we could see

at the tip of the pen and we could see that there’s a slight improvement

so if her eyes are moving better than

so if her eyes are moving better than her posture will also improve let’s look

her posture will also improve let’s look

her posture will also improve let’s look at your shoulders

so as a quick recap the eye exercises

so as a quick recap the eye exercises need to be performed three times a day

need to be performed three times a day

need to be performed three times a day for approximately thirty seconds the

for approximately thirty seconds the

for approximately thirty seconds the first step is simply to draw a line on

first step is simply to draw a line on

first step is simply to draw a line on your index finger your dominant index

your index finger your dominant index

your index finger your dominant index finger which means that if you’re

finger which means that if you’re

finger which means that if you’re right-handed it will be your right hand

right-handed it will be your right hand

right-handed it will be your right hand and if you’re left-handed it will be

and if you’re left-handed it will be

and if you’re left-handed it will be your left now I want you to start

your left now I want you to start

your left now I want you to start approximately at 15 centimetres and

approximately at 15 centimetres and

approximately at 15 centimetres and bring your finger close to your nose

bring your finger close to your nose

bring your finger close to your nose until you feel that your eyes are

until you feel that your eyes are

until you feel that your eyes are straining at this point I want you to

straining at this point I want you to

straining at this point I want you to start moving doing clockwise exercises

start moving doing clockwise exercises

start moving doing clockwise exercises clockwise for yourself and no higher

clockwise for yourself and no higher

clockwise for yourself and no higher than your mid forehead no lower than

than your mid forehead no lower than

than your mid forehead no lower than your nose not passing the borders of the

your nose not passing the borders of the

your nose not passing the borders of the face repeat three times a day morning

face repeat three times a day morning

face repeat three times a day morning afternoon and at supper time so I

afternoon and at supper time so I

afternoon and at supper time so I exercises are a quick and efficient way

exercises are a quick and efficient way

exercises are a quick and efficient way to instantly align our posture and

to instantly align our posture and

to instantly align our posture and decrease our pain by seeing our posture

decrease our pain by seeing our posture

decrease our pain by seeing our posture not as a result of biomechanical

not as a result of biomechanical

not as a result of biomechanical structure but rather as a result of

structure but rather as a result of

structure but rather as a result of continuous unconscious brain output we

continuous unconscious brain output we

continuous unconscious brain output we can change our therapeutic approach our

can change our therapeutic approach our

can change our therapeutic approach our focus shifts upstream to the brain and

focus shifts upstream to the brain and

focus shifts upstream to the brain and not downstream to the muscles and joints

not downstream to the muscles and joints

not downstream to the muscles and joints tiny tweaks lead to big changes in just

tiny tweaks lead to big changes in just

tiny tweaks lead to big changes in just one minute

one minute

one minute a day one minute a day so every day

a day one minute a day so every day

a day one minute a day so every day let’s do some eye exercises so that we

let’s do some eye exercises so that we

let’s do some eye exercises so that we can improve our brain body connection

can improve our brain body connection

can improve our brain body connection but let’s also share the science because

but let’s also share the science because

but let’s also share the science because it is simple because it is logical share

it is simple because it is logical share

it is simple because it is logical share it with our friends share it with our

it with our friends share it with our

it with our friends share it with our families so that we can help improve

families so that we can help improve

families so that we can help improve their lives so that we can help shape

their lives so that we can help shape

their lives so that we can help shape their lives when talking about true

their lives when talking about true

their lives when talking about true prevention looking at the brain is key

prevention looking at the brain is key

prevention looking at the brain is key we can’t afford to live with poor

we can’t afford to live with poor

we can’t afford to live with poor posture we cannot afford to live with

posture we cannot afford to live with

posture we cannot afford to live with pain but we can afford one minute a day

pain but we can afford one minute a day

pain but we can afford one minute a day to change faulty motor bat patterns and

to change faulty motor bat patterns and

to change faulty motor bat patterns and give ourselves a chance at a better

give ourselves a chance at a better

give ourselves a chance at a better quality of life thank you

”

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