Health is characterized by an undisturbed ability to regulate between tension and relaxation. This means that we can only function well if we can also relax well. Any kind of excessive stress can lead to a disruption in our ability to relax and thus regulate. Our battery can also no longer recharge properly, i.e. it can no longer produce the necessary hormones and messenger substances (neurotransmitters). We notice this in an increasing reduction in performance, tension with neck and back pain, irritability, depression, sleep disorders, loss of libido, digestive disorders, etc.. On examination, tension in the hip muscles, in the sense of partial or complete pelvic curvature, indicates a fixed stress mode. Before the actual orthopaedic treatment, you will learn what inside or outside your body is responsible for your individual state of stress and how you yourself can recognize and relieve your various causes of stress and thus also relax your pelvis and spine. You will find corresponding instructions on this website, including You Tube and in my book.
Physiology:

The normal stress response is a prehistorically anchored biological mechanism for the rapid mobilization of energy for an escape or attack reaction. It is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. This consists primarily of the sympathetic nervous plexus, which is responsible for increased motivation, and the parasympathetic nervous plexus or vagus, which is responsible for recovery and regeneration.

During stress, the sympathetic cranial nerve centers in the hypothalamus, brain stem and reticular formation send signals to the sympathetic nerve roots in the lateral horn of the spinal cord and from there to the sympathetic border cord on both sides of the spinal column with its center in the upper abdomen.
The main nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system, the vagus, is the tenth pair of cranial nerves to leave the brain in the occipital region and runs through the neck together with the carotid artery and jugular vein, forming the first center at the esophagus and the anterior vagus plexus at the transverse colon and the posterior vagus plexus at the sacrum. There are close connections to the face, jaw, inner neck, heart and abdomen.

The extremely fine regulation takes place primarily in the abdomen. The solar plexus is located at navel level in front of the spine. Through the interaction of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, or vagus, it regulates, among other things, the muscle tension of the stomach and intestines, as well as the glandular activity of the liver and spleen.
The adrenal glands, also located in the upper abdomen, produce steroid hormones such as cortisol in their cortex and regulate the water, mineral and sugar balance from there. The adrenal medulla is part of the sympathetic nervous system and produces the stress hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline. They are controlled via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
An external or internal stress signal classified by the cerebrum as unpleasant, threatening or overwhelming is transmitted to the sympathetic nerve plexuses of the hypothalamus in the diencephalon. From there, sympathetic nerves cause the immediate release of adrenaline and noradrenaline from the adrenal medulla, which is also part of the sympathetic nerve center. Heart rate and blood pressure are increased, sugar and fat reserves are made available to the muscles.

At the same time, the hormone ACTH from the pituitary gland triggers the release of cortisol and other hormones in the adrenal cortex. This inhibits protein synthesis and thus also cell formation and regeneration and promotes protein breakdown in bones, muscles and the lymphatic system. Digestion and sexuality are inhibited, red blood cells and coagulation factors are mobilized to protect against injuries.
The immune system is impaired in its function by various factors:

hormonally induced suppression of the thymus gland* with cortisol-induced inhibition of new protein formation in the lymphatic organs and the physiological inflammatory reaction.
due to a regulatory disorder in the solar plexus and the adrenal glands with reduced blood circulation, impaired toning of the smooth muscles of the hollow organs and restricted cell formation in the area of the abdominal organs, in particular the intestinal wall, with the lymphatic part of the immune system located there.
due to a disruption of the protective function of the connective tissue with its „clean-up cells“ (phagocytes) and its barrier function against foreign bodies (Schleip). The consequences are also an increase in allergies and other autoimmune diseases as well as cancer.
metabolic disorder with reduced absorption of oxygen and nutrients and reduced release of degradation products and toxins both at the cellular level and at the organ level due to a metabolic disorder of the cell wall of the corresponding organs.
In the connective tissue
In the connective tissue, systemic stress, but also local stress, e.g. by dislocating a joint, can stimulate muscle and fiber-forming cells (myofibroblasts) by activating the sympathetic nervous system. This can lead to adhesions and stiffening of the connective tissue, often associated with calcium deposits or coarse connective tissue plates. Metabolism and mobility and thus also the resilience of the tissue, e.g. in the back area, are reduced. The tissue becomes more susceptible to stress. The reduced resilience and increasing pain accelerate the stress spiral. If stress exceeds the individual and local limits of resilience, the body loses its ability to relax and remains in stress mode or sympathetic tone.

Within the stress
However, within the stress tolerance limits, „e-stress“ or „good stress“ not only increases performance, but is also vital. It is most beneficial for the body if the mobilized fat and sugar reserves are converted through appropriate muscle work, e.g. sport, and the body can regenerate appropriately in a subsequent vagotonic recovery phase.

The so-called „disstress“ initiates a disruption of the body’s self-healing powers and can lead to the so-called diseases of civilization:
1. the mobilized but unused fatty acids are incorporated into the vascular walls as cholesterol and increase the risk of arteriosclerosis and, together with the sympathetic circulatory stress, the risk of heart attack.
2. the increased stomach acid production promotes the risk of stomach and intestinal ulcers.
3. the immune system is disturbed: this happens:
3.1. through hormonally induced suppression of the thymus gland* with cortisol-induced inhibition of new protein formation in the lymphatic organs and the physiological inflammatory reaction.
3.2 Due to a regulatory disorder in the solar plexus and the adrenal glands with reduced blood circulation, impaired toning of the smooth muscles of the hollow organs and restricted cell formation in the area of the abdominal organs, especially the intestinal wall, with the lymphatic part of the immune system located there.
3.3 Disruption of the protective function of the connective tissue with its „clean-up cells“ (phagocytes) and its barrier function against foreign bodies (Schleip).
The consequences are also an increase in allergies and other autoimmune diseases, as well as cancer.
4. disturbance of the gliding, nutritional and detoxification function of the connective tissue leads to adhesions and shortening of tendons and tendon plates as well as joint capsules with an increase in back and neck pain, arthrosis and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
5. internal organs, skin and sexual organs are undersupplied in terms of metabolism and regulation with the corresponding psychosomatic consequences, including a reduction in libido.
6. the reduced protein synthesis and thus also limited new cell formation lead to a corresponding delay and disruption of the repair and regeneration processes and acceleration and pathologization of the aging process.
7. the disruption of the networking, coordination and regulatory function of the connective tissue leads to regulatory disorders in the central and vegetative nervous system with effects on all body systems. Depending on the constitution and stress situation, the regulatory disorder of the autonomic nervous system can lead to a fixation in the sympathetic or parasympathetic tone with the corresponding clinical pictures (see Vester).
8 Maternal stress hormones can cause later depression as well as intelligence and concentration disorders in the unborn child by disrupting brain development and sleep patterns. It is obvious that the above-mentioned connection between stress and the immune system favors autoimmune diseases, neurodemitis, etc.
9 Psychological symptoms of persistent sympathetic tone or vegetative hypertension, often also caused by trauma, can include overexcitability, outbursts of anger or panic attacks.
Frequent psychological symptoms of persistent parasympathetic tone, which is often also caused by trauma, are exhaustion, depression, burnout syndrome and feelings of alienation.

Stress reaction from the perspective of integral orthopaedics:
9 Psychological symptoms of persistent sympathetic tone or vegetative hypertension, often also caused by trauma, can include overexcitability, outbursts of anger or panic attacks.
Frequent psychological symptoms of persistent parasympathetic tone, which is often also caused by trauma, are exhaustion, depression, burnout syndrome and feelings of alienation.

Stress reaction from the perspective of integral orthopaedics:
Cranial contusions, whiplash injuries and coccyx contusions are of particular importance due to their close interconnection with the parasympathetic nervous system.
Misaligned jaws with or without occlusal splints or braces can lead to permanent sympathetic irritation via the craniosacral system. The same applies to foreign bodies on sensitive areas of the body, e.g. on the auricle or in the navel via the basic system.
The slagging of the basic system due to stress- or nutrition-related acidosis, or intolerance reactions or stress-related incorrect colonization of the intestine with bacteria, viruses and fungi also lead to an overload of the fascial and vegetative regulation.
2nd level: In almost all chronic, but also many acute illnesses, there is already a generalized reaction rigidity of the autonomic nervous system due to stress-related overstimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis* and the described overloading of the basic connective tissue system. The physiological ability to adapt between performance mode or sympathetic tone is disturbed.
3rd level: The overloading of the nerve centers and stress organs in the upper abdomen very often leads to a segmental disturbance of the spinal segments located there, with an often asymmetrical tension of the muscles originating there.
The primary stress pattern resulting from an imbalance of the hip flexor and back extensor muscles and hip abductor muscles is pelvic curvature. In early human history, this may have been the sensible preparation for an escape or attack reaction. However, if the increased adrenaline level is not used up through appropriate physical exercise, the body remains in stress mode.
If the stress mode persists for a long time, the consumption of stress hormones and other neurotransmitters can lead to a persistent state of exhaustion ( burn out ) with a lack of pelvic contraction despite a history of stress.
Overwhelming stress and trauma can lead to a blockage of the posterior vagus branch. This usually manifests itself in a coccyx that is pulled inwards and painful due to pressure, with the sacrum fixed backwards and tension in the pelvic floor and the entire spine.
4th level: The curvature of the spine and pelvis leads to reduced resilience with increasingly frequent back pain due to muscle tension, thickening of the fascia and disturbed joint movement.
5th level: The slagging of the connective tissue and the vegetative regulatory rigidity with dominant sympathetic tone or, in the case of burnout, vagal tone, as well as permanent muscular tension or reduced muscle tone, cause a disturbance in the ability to relax or tense and thus the ability to regulate and self-heal.
The persistent state of tension and pain, the reduced cellular energy regeneration caused by stress, as well as the impaired absorption and utilization of nutrients and the weakened immune system increasingly impair general well-being and performance.
6th level: A redistribution of cerebral blood flow in favor of reflexive centers and pain-related irritations of the diencephalon, especially the thalamus, additionally promote depressive moods and make higher brain performance and the associated states of consciousness more difficult. Access to the inner sources of joy, strength and creativity is hindered, with effects on interpersonal relationships and the connection to the higher self or to God.
People reduce their lives, including social contacts, to the bare essentials and only think about their illness. However, as long as the cause is not taken into account, conventional treatments with manual and other physical therapy or acupuncture cannot lead to a long-lasting improvement.

In Integral Orthopaedics, treatment is based on relieving internal and external stress factors and thus the sympathetic nervous system and activating the vagus nerve. (see pelvic curvature). The resolution of pelvic torsion can also serve as an indicator of the effectiveness of other relaxation techniques for activating the vagus nerve and relieving the autonomic nervous system.

You can find out more about the physiology of the stress response and the polyvagal theory in „Healing from the center“ here.