Aspects of Trunk Control

Abstract

If the vertebral column is considered as a series of small levers, each vertebra moving in relation to the adjacent ones as well as together with them, it becomes obvious that very finely co-ordinated muscle activity is necessary to move or stabilise the spine. Likening the vertebrae to a set of toy building blocks, it would be possible to position such blocks one upon the other so that they would stand precariously balanced. The slightest movement of one of the blocks, or the surface on which the lowest stands, however, would cause them to fall to the ground.