The revised edition of the definitive book on the mechanics, mysteries, and methods of upright walking
The ability to walk upright on two legs is one of the major traits distinguishing us as humans, and yet the reasons for its development remain a mystery among scientists. In Born to Walk, author James Earls explores the mystery of walking's evolution by describing the complex mechanisms enabling us to be efficient in bipedal gait. Viewing the whole body as an interconnected unit, he explains how we can regain a flowing efficiency within our gait—an efficiency which is part of our natural design. Based on Thomas Myers's Anatomy Trains model of human anatomy, as well as the latest science in paleoanthropology, sports medicine, and anatomy, Earls's work demonstrates how the whole body collaborates in walking, and distills the complex actions into a simple sequence of "essential events" that engage the myofascia and utilize its full potential.
The second and revised edition of this book provides bodyworkers, physical therapists and movement teachers with new research on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment approaches. Earls offers a convenient model for understanding the complexity of movement while gaining a deeper insight into the physiology and mechanics of the walking process. This book is designed for movement therapy practitioners, physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, massage therapists, and bodyworkers hoping to understand gait and its mechanics. It will also appeal to anyone with an interest in evolution and movement.
ISBN-13: 9781623174439
Media Type: Paperback
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Publication Date: 06-23-2020
Pages: 204
Product Dimensions: 8.30(w) x 10.80(h) x 0.50(d)
JAMES EARLS is a writer, lecturer, and bodywork practitioner specializing in myofascial release and structural integration. He is coauthor, with Thomas Myers, of Fascial Release for Structural Balance. The director of Ultimate Massage Solutions and Kinesis UK, Earls is a popular presenter at conferences and workshops around the world. He writes regularly for a range of bodywork magazines and professional journals.
Table of Contents
Foreword 5
Preface to the Second Edition 7
Introduction 9
Chapter 1 The "Walking System" 15
Chapter 2 The Mechanical Chain 49
Chapter 3 Sagittal Plane 75
Chapter 4 Frontal Plane 103
Chapter 5 Transverse Plane 127
Chapter 6 Our Inner Spring 155
Chapter 7 Contralateral Movement 173
Chapter 8 Spring Walker 183
Chapter 9 Conclusion 191
Bibliography 193
Index 199
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