10. Functional Considerations as the Guiding Treatment Principle

While it is easily possible for trees to adapt to the harsh realities of life, for example by growing diagonally, following the prevailing winds, the human body is able to achieve similar feats only at tremendous cost in terms of energy. By contrast with the continuous skeleton of trees, the bony skeleton of the human body consists of separate segments that are spread wide open by and between the muscles. A slanted posture or asymmetrical function requires an extra amount of energy, since the centre of gravity of the body easily threatens to wander off the human body’s relatively small base area. To avoid this and to balance the body, body mass must be relocated, resulting in local overload.