There are approximately 360 joints in our body. The habitual restrictive movement patterns of our day to day activities, means that each of these joints can lose their full movement capacity over time.

Sadly, back problems can start in school. Think of sitting at a desk as a child, having to be still and quiet during lessons, then as an adult perhaps in front of a computer screen for your working day for example.

These activities are not what we are naturally designed for but over time we learn to shape our bodies to adapt to the positions inflicted on them. We are not designed to remain in one position for a long period of time, doing in repetitive actions, we are designed for movement, and problems of function and fitness can result from habitually restricting our movement range.

Each of our joints has a range of movement and, if we compare our joint movement to a pendulum, each joint has a neutral position. In a neutral position, just like the pendulum, the joint is in a place where it is neither moving to this way, or to that way. It is positioned somewhere in the midpoint, in an optimum position, ready for the next action that the brain may ask the joint to perform.

When a joint is positioned in neutral, it is supported by deep muscles and connective tissue, ready for any forces which may be applied to it.

This is especially important for the spine and the pelvis. These bony structures, along with the two scapula or shoulder blades, should form the stable structure of our skeleton and create a strong infrastructure against which our limbs can freely move.

Think of the spine and pelvis as being like a gate post. The gate is much more efficient if the gate post remains stable. If the gate post wobbles around then the gate hinges will rub and strain, eventually wearing out and needing attention.

It stands to reason that for our limbs to move effectively the structures to which they are hinged need to be stable. Our legs move in the ball and socket joint of our pelvis, our arms move in the ball and socket joint of our scapula. Remember stable doesn’t necessarily mean static.

As our body moves about in its normal activity, our brain ought to perceive where the neutral position for our spine, pelvis and scapula are. This ability of the brain to constantly reposition the bony structures for optimum function is called proprioception. The problem is, we lose it, if we don’t use it!

Stand up and find neutral position for your pelvis, it might be different to the way you normally stand. Keep your legs straight and roll your pelvis around, tilt it forwards and backwards, then find the mid position, halfway between the full extent of your tilt. Is that the way you normally stand? Thought not!

Patricia Issitt is a movement therapist and Pilates instructor and has worked in fitness and wellbeing since 1980. Patricia opened York Pilates Space, a fully equipped Pilates studio, in the city centre in 2004.