Ronald Nichols LMT

Not masseur or masseuse 💚🤎🤍

Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm or hand? The root cause might actually be coming from your neck!
Your cervical spine houses the nerve roots that control sensation and muscle strength all the way down to your fingertips. When a nerve root gets compressed or irritated, it follows a specific dermatome and myotome pattern.
Here’s a quick breakdown of cervical nerve root functions:
* C5: Biceps strength & shoulder sensation
* C6: Biceps/wrist extensions & sensation to the thumb and radial side of the hand
* C7: Triceps strength & sensation extending to the middle and index fingers
* C8: Hand grip strength & sensation to the ring and little finger
* T1: Inner side of the forearm/hand and intrinsic hand muscle control
Understanding these nerve root pathways helps pinpoint the exact level of nerve irritation in the neck.
Save this graphic for quick reference, and share it with someone dealing with neck or arm symptoms!
Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only. If you are experiencing radicular pain, numbness, or weakness, consult a healthcare provider for a clinical evaluation.

Interesting 🤔

Most people don’t realize your jaw and pelvis are linked. Not just through posture or movement habits, but through your developmental blueprint.

Around day 15 of embryonic development, two critical areas begin to form: the oropharyngeal membrane, which becomes the mouth, and the cloacal membrane, which becomes the openings of the digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems.
The spine grows between them establishing a physical and neurological connection that lasts your entire life.

This connection continues through fascia and the central nervous system. The dural tube, which surrounds and protects the spinal cord, creates a continuous communication pathway from your jaw down to your sacrum.

When there’s tension or misalignment in the jaw whether from clenching, TMJ dysfunction, or altered bite it changes head posture. Your body compensates to keep balance, often by tilting the pelvis or shifting your weight.

Over time, these small changes can show up as chronic hip pain, pelvic instability, or forward head posture.

There’s also a functional link: the jaw and pelvic floor are both involved in how your body stabilizes the spine. They’re part of your core system.
If your jaw is clenched, chances are your pelvic floor is either overactive or not firing properly. This affects posture, breath control, and how your nervous system regulates tension.

Posture isn’t just a matter of standing tall. It’s a full-body coordination between systems that started forming before you were even born.

Read our full blog jaw and body are connected

https://posturepro.substack.com/p/tongue-toe-connection

I do this often to release my back tension also! Great stretch!!

🦵 Resting your legs up against a wall places them above the level of your heart, which can make it easier for blood and other fluid in the lower legs to move back toward the upper body. This position may temporarily reduce the feeling of heaviness and mild swelling after long periods of standing or sitting.

However, the body does not simply "drain pooled blood" in five minutes, and this position does not treat the underlying cause of swollen feet. Mild swelling can happen after prolonged standing, heat, travel, or activity, but persistent swelling can also be linked to vein problems, medications, heart or kidney conditions, or other health issues.

To try the position, lie on your back and rest your legs comfortably against a wall for about 5–10 minutes while breathing normally. You can also elevate your legs on pillows if that feels more comfortable. Gentle walking and regular movement can also help circulation when swelling is related to sitting or standing for long periods.

If swelling is persistent, severe, painful, red, warm, or suddenly affects only one leg, it should be medically evaluated. Swelling accompanied by chest pain or shortness of breath requires urgent medical attention.

🧘 Child’s Pose gently stretches the muscles around the lower back, hips, and pelvis while allowing the spine to move into a comfortable flexed position. For some people, this relaxed posture can reduce muscle tension and provide temporary relief from mild lower back discomfort.

Research suggests that yoga and other gentle movement exercises can help reduce chronic or nonspecific lower back pain when practiced regularly. However, there is no evidence that holding Child’s Pose for exactly 60 seconds physically “unkinks” the spine or fixes the underlying cause of back pain. The response can also vary depending on what is causing the pain.

To practice Child’s Pose, kneel comfortably, sit your hips back toward your heels, and slowly lower your torso forward. Rest your forehead on the floor or a cushion rather than pressing it heavily into the ground. Extend your arms forward or keep them beside your body, then breathe slowly for about 20–60 seconds. The stretch should feel gentle, not painful.

For longer-term back health, regular physical activity and exercises that strengthen the core, hips, and back can be more helpful than relying on one stretch. If back pain is severe, keeps getting worse, follows an injury, or occurs with leg weakness, numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness around the groin, seek medical care promptly.