ABSTRACT

Faculty member Per Haaland explores the role of the axial complex in human locomotion. Haaland discusses the importance of persistence hunting in human evolution and how Serge Gracovetsky’s spinal engine theory posits the spine’s
centrality to human locomotion. Hubert Godard’s tonic function model further describes the sophisticated interplay between tonic and phasic muscles in human locomotion.
A deeper understanding of these theories and models will help our work in structural
integration and movement education.

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