Shift phase: a moment of chaos in the gait cycle

👣 Shift phase: a moment of chaos in the gait cycle.

👣 We call it the leap of faith when the body’s centre of mass bravely departs from the safety of it’s base of support on one leg to enter pastures new with the anticipation of finding a new base of support under the other leg as it enters into Strike phase (aka initial contact).

👣 Shift phase comes alive with a lateral frontal plane 🔙🔜 movement of the pelvis through space. Ideally level (no lateral tilt) it transfers the body’s mass from one leg to the other. Walking!

👣 “Shift happens” whether you like it or not: We always have to get from one leg to another. It’s the manner in which we achieve this moment in the cycle that sets us up for an effortless journey or not.

👣 People struggle with shifting the pelvis both left and right – one shift phase or the other must be affected reducing the efficacy of the whole gait cycle.

👣 What outcomes could arise out of not being able to shift the pelvis both ways?

👣 Adductor lengthening and shortening?

👣 QL lengthening and shortening?

👣 Lumbar compression on one side?

👣 Cervical issues / improper head carriage?

👣 Affected Windlass mechanics?

👣 Wrist extension issues on side opposite to the one you can’t shift to?

👣 Check also to see if the side you can’t shift to is the side of your more pronated foot. Ain’t no orthotics or Janda short foot exercise changing that for you…. #getshiftinginstead

👣 Got one of the above going on? Check your ability to shift the pelvis equally to both sides…. ⬅️ 👀 ➡️

👣 By not exploring all areas of your base of support, your ‘internal horizons’ become limited 🤜🏼😱🤛🏼

👣 You spend time in some of your base of support, instead of all, and use a reduced amount of brain power to manage that.

👣 Your access all areas pass has expired and needs renewing. Maybe it’s time to explore new horizons by re-exposing your brain to lost movements?

👣 That base of support you can’t shift to… will open up those horizons when you do… and open up new possibilities you forgot were available to you 😃like rowing off into the sunset 😍 SUMMER 💪🏼 (unless Southern Hemisphere of course 😅)

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