For the Supine Active Sacro-Spheno Flexion, I have a few questions:
1. What is the benefit of the forward jaw?
2. Why not allow OA flexion? I thought the TMCC pattern involves SB flexion with OA extension and lower cervical flexion, wouldn’t the OA flexion promote the SB extension that is needed?
3. If we are using the Styloid to help ER the R temporal bone, where is the tongue (as it relates to the hyoid bone) during this exercise?
The benefit of moving the jaw forward is that the lateral pterygoids help move the cranium back and around the rolled up towel under the mid neck. Cranial retraction allows more freedom at the articulating paired bones of the cranium and promotes OA extension, which is a precursor for cranial flexion (and is the expansion and “repositioning” segment of the technique). The right TMCC pattern includes left SB flexion and OA extension when compared to the position of the right cranium that is in a probable state of right cranial extension and OA flexion. So, we are setting up for cranial flexion through the OA by acquiring “normal” OA extension or neutral position by bringing the mandible forward so that both sides of the cranium and cranial base are capable of being repositioned. OA flexion would promote SB extension and if you would only perform this on the left, you would also promote more OA extension on the right when considering the influence the left OA would have on the right OA, during this accompanying cranial rotation to the right. So, we want to promote more right OA extension in most humans to reverse or establish head or sphenoid rotation to the right and accompanying thorax rotation (T4) to the right . I am using the styloid muscle to assist with ER and anterior rotation of the right temporal bone as OA extension is preserved across both occiputs and as cranial flexion is enhanced through right temporal ER. The OA extension on the left should not interfere with cranial function since both sides of the cranium are now in flexion. One would need more OA flexion on the left for left sphenoid or cranial extension, if more active cranial and head rotation to the right is desired. But, in this technique we are establishing neutrality at the base of the head and then promoting biased cranial flexion on the right through temporal movement. The tongue should be relaxed and inactive as it rests in the freeway space of the anterior oral cavity. I am depending on the styloid hyoid and the strylopharyngeal muscle to pull the temporal styloid process and reposition the temporal bone on the right, not necessarily the styloglossus muscle, because the aforementioned muscle is now adhered to secured pharynx and hyoid because of the neutral rest position that the head and neck are in. Too many of us use the styloglossus muscle to “move” or stabilize the temporals and this technique more than likely reduces the demands on the tongue and placing more demands on temporal pharynx and temporal hyoid movement versus pharynx temporal, hyoid temporal and glossus temporal movement.
