Postural reprogramming for the rider

Introduction

This medical term was coined in France at the beginning of the eighties, and is based on the study of the human being as a whole, rather than in seperate segments as medical science studies it.

Maintaining your posture is an automatic unconscious motricity action which allows man to stand upright and be stable statically or dynamically. Understanding postural control of the rider integrates the numerous interactions between horse and rider. Optimising the partnership requires good « perception before action ». Our brain receives information regarding our position from our different senses (sight, hearing, touch, proprioception of ligamants and tendons…) before acting. However, how reliable we consider this information depends on each individual.

Posturology is a clinical practice which assesses posture using a pluridisciplinary approach : it concerns all the professionals in the rider’s team

What does controlling posture imply ?

Definitions

There are different definitions of posture. For example Paillard defines posture as « the positionof the different body segments at a precise instant », but also as « automatic stabilisation of the body in a standard position, characteristic to the species, and subject to the forces of gravity ».

Massion’s definition

This definition is particularly of interest as it is based on the postulate that posture has two major functions :

Maintaining balance is an antigravity function which consists in opposing the force of gravity. When static, postural balance is maintained when the center of gravity as projected to the ground remains within the supporting area defined by our feet on the ground. Postural tonicity is the factor which enables us to ensure this, thanks to deep muscles, also called postural muscles.
Spatial orientation and connection with the outside world for perception and action. Postural orientation ensures the stability needed to develop movement. It enables us to perform gestures geared towards a precise goal, such as turning one’s eyes before jumping a fence, and interacting effectively with the environment. Since man is subjected to gravitational accelerations, and to those from the movement itself, posture is therefore unstable.

Controlling one’s posture

Posture is directly related to postural control. This definition is based on Baucher’s guideline : « Position is prior to action », which attributes importance to the orientation of the body before movement.

Postural balance and orientation are based on interaction between the senses (figure 1). Our different sensory receptors detect specific information :

Figure 1 : sensory systems involved in postural control (Perrin and Lestienne, 1994)

Accelerations of the head for the inner ear (vestibular receptor).
Applying body weight for touch (proprioceptive receptor).
Postural configuration of the segments for muscles, tendons and joints (proprioceptive receptor)
Moving around the scene for vision (visual receptor). All this information is complementary, even if sometimes redundant, and ensures and modulates how we move.

The rider : a specific posture

Figure 2 : du piéton au cavalier : des appuis plantaires aux appuis sur bassin principalement — Figure 2 : From walking to riding : supported by feet on the ground, to being suppored through the pelvis, mainly the rider, rider, pedestrian © Florence Olivier

Horse riding as a sport, has a particularity in terms of balance as it is the result of an interaction between horse and rider. The rider who is a biped, has to go from his natural balance on his two feet when walking, to a « modified balance » astride the horse, balance which is then mainly on the pelvis while moving on horseback (Figure 2).

Equestrianism is a complex discipline to classify among sports. André Thomas (1940) classified it among « luxury balance sports » attributing importance to balance and postural coordination likening it to dancing, or gymnastics.

Auvinet (1998) identified the link between the rider’s position in the saddle, the resulting curves in the backbone, and the way the pelvis functions : « It is through the way the rider’s pelvis functions that he can absorb the shocks, the forces and impulsions caused by the horse’s movements »

Rider’s seat

Figure 3 : The 3 types of « seat » according to Museler (1992) from left to right : normal seat : arched loins (retroversion of the pelvis) ; hollowed back (anteversion of the pelvis)-Auvinet and Estrade (1998)

Acquiring a specific position for horse riding will allow the rider to follow the horse’s movements without bouncing around in the saddle. Mastering what the professionals call the seat (position of the pelvis with regard to the spine), will enable the rider to adapt to all of his mount’s movements. There are several types of seat to adopt, so as to acquire more stability (Figure 3).

The rider’ posture must constantly be adapted as it is subject to interferences created by the horse’s movements, by the environment, and by the task to be performed (jumping, dressage figures…). Postural control is therefore a fundamental part of rider performance, which will differ according to the rider’s expertise, and to inter-individual differences.

Pathologies

The pathologies encountered in equestrian sports are very often due to overwork linked to overexertion of tendons, muscles or joints. The rider’s back is particularly subject to solicitation because of the postural variations required by the horse’s movements (different gaits, jumps etc).

Professional riders show signs of muscle and ligament overexertion which can lead to cervical pain (12%), upper back pain (7%), and lower back pain (almost 64 % of riders suffer from pain in the lumbar region). Moreover horse riding is classified as a « high risk » sport like motorcycle sports. In comparison, football is classified as « medium risk » and hunting as « low risk ». See fact sheet ; Professional riders : let’s talk about your health.

Establishing a postural assessment could evaluate certain disorders early on to avoid potential injury, and to ensure that posture is stable and effective.

The steps of a postural assessment

The aim of a postural assessment is to evaluate a rider’s postural control from a morpho-static followed by a dynamic examination.

Morphotype

After a comprehensive questionnaire (previous medical history, pains, tense areas…), the first phase assesses the main morphological characteristics of the rider in the different dimensions of space.

This analysis can be carried out with video tools (figure 4) or validated and replicable clinical tools which will evalute among other things :

The rider’s position related to sagittal and frontal gravity lines.
Scapular and pelvic tilting
Inflexions and rotations of different body stages( head, spine, position of knees and feet).

This descriptive assessment will help in understanding movement.

Postural dynamic test (PDT)

Figure 5 : Postural dynamic test © Connaissance & Evolution

Following this first analysis, muscle tone is assessed, as well as possible postural disorders by carrying out a postural dynamic test (figure 5), based on the biomechanical laws governing spinal movement.

This test evaluates parvertebral muscle tone, and spinal mobility before implementing any therapeutical protocol. It also shows up any assymetry and the incidence on our posture. These assymetries can be mainly proprioceptive and tactile disorders, or the sign of disturbances in integrating visual, vestibular, visceral, or other organic information into the postural system.

There are also other simple tests to assess balance, like for example the pelvic support test. This shows whether the subject’s pelvis remains horizontal when standing on one leg. This test often shows difunctions with riders suffering from lower back pain.

Study of movement variations from pressure centre

Figure 6 : Stabilometry (FusyoÂ®platform, medisensors, France) © Connaissance & Évolution.

Studying variations in movement of foot pressure centre, which « dances constantly with our centre of gravity to keep us stable », can be measured thanks to stabilometry forces platforms (Gagey, 1985). These recordings can show up possible position disorders, perceptive and motor disfunctions, which can interfere with dynamic balance.

This study (stabilometric, figure 6), is a test to objectively study the degree of instability. For riders it is a preventative tool to help monitor training, or treatment.

Reprogramming/ postural remediation

Following both the above stages, a chiropodist trained in posturology can rebalance the postural system through plantar stimulation when necessary. In these cases the postural chiropodist uses plantar stimuli to force a regulation of the postural system. This is why nowadays we talk about « postural remediation », and no longer about « postural reprogramming » since it is the person’s postural system which corrects its difunctions using new information.

Postural insoles

Figure 7 : Semelles posturales — Figure 7 : Postural insoles © Connaissance & Évolution

Postural insoles have a sensory and motor effect. More precisely, they are elements in the insoles which are rarely more than 3mm thick. These thin elements act like a lure which through stimulation of the plantar receptors tell the brain to adjust muscle tone. These insoles help in recentering and rebalancing a rider’s posture with regard to gravity forces.

These thin removable insoles have demonstrated their efficiency on postural control but also on oculomotor control (eye movement), especially when facing pain. They are a complement to any other therapy already present in classical monitoring of posture (physiotherapy, osteopathy, ENT treatment…), they should be worn while practising sport, and on a daily basis. Within a few weeks they release the body from any unwanted tension.

Conclusion

The aim of the postural assessment and subsequent remediation is not to make the rider perfectly symetrical morphologically, but to increase self-regulation of posture, and therefore increase functional capacities. Posturology will complement physical preparation protocols and any other medical treatment. Observations made subsequently will orient and individualise treatment according to the specifics of each individual, and will help avoid injuries.