FULCRUM CONCEPT

“… A fulcrum is a still-point, a point of stillness. It is from this point that a lever moves and takes its power. Know that a fulcrum can be moved, but that its function cannot be changed. It is always a stationary point, a resting point, from which the levers work and acquire their power.” W.G. Sutherland DO

We have already mentioned the word fulcrum in the previous pages, at this point it is essential to better understand its meaning.

Let’s try to give a historical description to better understand the concept of the fulcrum, retracing the writings of the historical authors of craniosacral, William Garner Sutherland, and those of one of his disciples, Rollin Becker; We will try to understand in the light of quantum physics what the nature of this concept is.

Definition of fulcrum: The Latin word, “fulcrum” means to support, to support. Something that holds or supports, the point on and from which a lever moves. The fulcrum or point of support is an element that is very present in osteopathy and in manual therapies in which we often speak of a point of support, of pivot, of lever.

The fulcrum, in the craniosacral approach, has additional meanings, but the concept of fulcrum is also applicable at the level of other areas of the body.

A bit of history of the word fulcrum.

In the 1940s, while investigating the cranial field, Dr. Sutherland noticed a region that reacted in a particular way. It assumes that these are the Reciprocal Tension Membranes or MTRs and their insertion poles. A fulcrum mechanism seemed to manifest itself. It locates this region at the level of the rectus sinus where the cerebral sickle and the tentorium of the cerebellum are contiguous.

More than a simple point of support, the fulcrum manifests itself as a dynamic point of support and following experiments realizes that the fulcrum of the MTR is mobile, adaptable and suspended.

In homage to W.G. Sutherland, his pupils gave this functional conjunction the name “Sutherland Fulcrum”. The concept of fulcrum was discovered and described in relation to the anatomical region in which the sickles and tentorium of the cerebellum are contiguous at the level of the rectal sinus, but we can ask whether other fulcrums exist.

Of course, the answer is yes. There are a large number of fulcrums. They are present everywhere in nature and in the human body. Dr. Thomas F. Schooley says: “If fluctuations occur, there must be a central point from which they arise, and this point has no movement of its own and may be called a fulcrum. So, there has to be a fulcrum for every atom, for every molecule, for every mass of matter.”

Understanding which fulcrums are most important is essential to allow fluids to circulate better, in this way we will avoid fluid stasis. The fluid system is a capital element in the osteopathic concept, already for A.T. Still, with the first rule of the artery and then W.G. Sutherland gives considerable importance to fluids, taking particular interest in the CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) defining it as “The noblest element contained in the human body…”.

It is interesting to note that the descriptions made over the years consider these key words: the oscillating moving levers, represented by the fluctuations of the tide, the power, the stillness, the point of rest, this movement of equilibrium between the ebb and flow of the waves as well as the moment of equilibrium between two tides.

Dr. Sutherland does not specify, as he did for the membranous fulcrum, the location of a possible major fluid fulcrum. However, numerous interpretations place this fluid fulcrum at the level of the third ventricle and more precisely in the area of the terminal lamina which is its anterior wall. The bone fulcrum corresponds to sphenobasilar synchondrosis.

At this point, the difference between a foothold and a fulcrum becomes more apparent. In fact, the point of support is intrinsically linked to the notion of fulcrum, both have the most important element: the point of immobility, of stillness that generates power.

The fulcrum, however, has several additional elements: mobility, i.e. the ability to change or move from one point to another, adaptation, which is the ability to act on oneself, suspension, which is typical of all fulcrums.

The concept of fulcrum has moved from a notion of a foothold to that of a mobile and adaptable point, which corresponds more to a centralizing, distributing force and as J. Andreva Duval says: “in the primary mechanism a “fulcrum” is not an anatomical point, it is an energetic place.”

This concept is fundamental because it represents the very essence of W.G. Sutherland’s approach towards the end of his life. In fact, the fulcrum is synonymous with immobility, power and balance, elements that favor the maintenance of health in the physiology of the body.

Another author, R. Becker, a pupil and friend of Dr. Sutherland, continues his work by expanding it. Applying the craniosacral concept to the whole body, on all levels and to all dimensions of the human being.

Dr. Becker had many questions about the application of the pivot principle. In this correspondence we note first of all the use of a term that does not appear in any other publication: Master Fulcrum or Fulcrum Maestro. This Master Fulcrum would seem to hold up all the other fulcrums of the body, both physiologically and pathologically. In addition, working with this would highlight all the dysfunctions, and then correct them.

Dr. Becker reveals some of his deepest thoughts on this Master Fulcrum. “… I am entirely convinced that God, or the spirit of nature, has proved his ability to plan (if there is a plan) and to construct or provide laws in himself, without a model for the myriad forms and animate beings…”

In 1952 Dr. Becker tells us: “The breath of unified life is the adaptable mobile suspended fulcrum for which permanently mobile models seek balance.” The concept of fulcrum increases its value as an involuntary mechanism. R. Becker describes a fulcrum of the highest degree. Continuing with his doubts and questions, R. Becker notes that the development of our perception, in order to reach an ideal diagnosis and cure, can only be done in total neutrality; that is, abandoning any form of ego of the therapist (J. Andreva Duval)

Dr. Sutherland and Dr. Becker have developed such a degree of perception that they can no longer transcribe their sensations to us in classical or scientific terms. Consequently, to develop the craniosacral concept, terms with definitions that represent a less mechanical and more subtle osteopathic approach and the unspeakable are often employed: the breath of life, the breath of life, the liquid light, the spiritual fulcrum, the Boss, the silent partner.

A more contemporary aspect of working on fulcrums.

We will try to analyze the most fluid approach to osteopathy through modern sciences, in this case physics and some theories of biology.

If we consider the fulcrum through classical physics, studying the different types of leverage, this analysis leads us only to a mechanistic view of the fulcrum and therefore to the simple point of support, which in the most mechanistic osteopathy is fundamental.

But it is not the energetic vision that corresponds to the appearance of the fulcrums and fluids.

Let’s start by giving more functional concepts of the fulcrum. What are the peculiarities of the fulcrum? The fulcrum is mute without various kinds of communications, which can be light-filled, density, and even vibratory.

This peculiarity strangely suggests a still-point that certainly corresponds to a fulcrum. The node is identified at a singular point that resembles a “black hole”.

The fulcrum in its singularity is the bearer of a strong density of energy that does not express and does not induce the environment. The energy load is not energetic.

In the same way, the fulcrum, which is a still-point, generates power but does not express it; They are the levers that will dissipate the energy as they move. This description only allows us to draw a parallel with the fulcrum, as R. Becker points out:

“Power can be described in different ways. It’s the space between two notes in a sheet music score… It separates the different wavelengths that manifest the energy of electromagnetic fields. It lies between the ebb and flow of the ocean and the flows of universal energy of the solar system and beyond. In chemistry, it intervenes at the exchange points between two reactions. One of the simplest descriptions of power, however, is that of the lever and the fulcrum: the power at the point of immobility that constitutes the fulcrum is the sum total of the energies that manifest themselves at the two ends of the lever.”

Immobility.

To observe mobility, we need to take points as a reference. A car, for example, is stationary or moving relative to the pavements of the street or the shoulders of the road. The rectus sinus (anatomical region where Sutherland’s fulcrum is located) can be mobile or immobile with respect to the ground (the earth), but remains immobile with respect to its levers, which are the membranes of the body.

These arguments are based on the hypothesis that there is an absolute reference as well as an absolute time. Let us detach ourselves from this mechanistic view, and consider the energy level of an object that is supposed to be immobile.

Considering quantum theory, the basic state, or the lowest energy state of an object, does not correspond to the achievement of a zero energy. Even at its basic state, an object is inevitably the site of a minimal amount of fluctuations called zero-point fluctuations. Similarly, even in a vacuum or in their lowest energy state, the waves of a Maxwell field are not exactly equal to zero.

This minimal energy state is conceived as an ocean of virtual particles that interact with each other and give the “vacuum” a certain potential energy.

“Emptiness” is the latent state of reality. Ordinary matter consisting of intrinsically dynamic elementary particles is its manifest state.

In short, matter is nothing more than a manifestation of “emptiness”

Rollin Becker expresses this zero-point energy starting from the image of the silent partner. “Your silent partner is a pivotal point; it is absolutely immobile. There is no moving energy in the silent partner. It’s all the energy, but it’s not moving. It is the actual energy source, the state from which the energy comes. There’s no movement, there’s just pure power.”

With this information we can try to interpret the notion of immobility (the first principle of the fulcrum) as the latent state of “reality”.

Thus the fulcrum, or more precisely, the billions of fulcrums are only potential manifestations. R. Becker tells us that the stillness of life is expressed directly as a dynamic reality through our consciousness; In other words, it could be said that the consciousness of the observer actualizes the particles. (A phenomenon dear to quantum physics).

This also highlights the activations created by the therapist himself in the absence of his neutral state can perturb the patient’s organism “Not only do observations disturb what is to be measured, but they produce it……..we force an electron to assume a definite position… but it is we ourselves who produce the results of the measurement.” Pascual Jordan (1902-1980)

From matter to spirit.

An analysis of the spirit and conscience in relation to the suffering body has already been treated at the dawn of osteopathy, by its founders and over time other colleagues have continued to reiterate the same concept, all this certainly contrasts with the historical moment we live in Europe, where the category tries to make osteopathy a health profession with scientific evidence.

In quantum physics, the world of matter and the world of consciousness (or spirit) can be interpreted as two aspects of the same reality. In this way we can better grasp what R. Becker expresses: “… We do this palpation with the carrier hand. Feeling the movement again is not enough. It is necessary to “listen” to what the movement expresses – to listen with the spirit, to reason with the spirit, to interpret with the spirit, to read with the spirit. It is necessary to develop a “mental picture” of how, when, and why the physiological mechanism of de! patient expresses this kind of movement.”

We must be careful, when we speak of spirit, not to create confusion; It is commonly used as a synonym for soul. The term “spirit” is applied only to that which refers directly to the universal consciousness, of which it is the homogeneous and unmixed emanation.

Avant-garde physicists propose quantum theories of consciousness:

David Bohm Theory, Quantum Field Theory, Sir John Eccles Microvilli Theory

Now we can perceive the full importance of consciousness in this approach; The perception of the fulcrum can only be done through our neutral state. A technical application is carried out using the energies of immobility and those of the physiological function of the body in their own dynamics of balanced rhythmic exchanges. This allows us to diagnose and treat both in the state of health and in the traumatic or diseased one.

“The condition is very simple: to be conscious of immobility and to admit the physiological function of the body, which manifests its own infallible power rather than using a blind force from without.” A link can be made between stillness and consciousness by considering a quote from W.G. Sutherland:

“Be still and know” “Be still and know” “Be still and know” …. One might wonder if knowledge lies in stillness.

The fulcrum, this centralizing, distributing force, this energetic place, is the conjunction between the inherent forces and life manifesting as a movement. R. Becker, universalizing the work of W.G. Sutherland, teaches us that it is possible to feel immobility, as well as movement, but above all that it is possible to use these resources to restore health.

Let us remember the three fundamental principles of osteopathy: the interdependence of structure/function, the unity of the whole, and the principle of self-healing.

To be able to have the sensory skills to understand, listen and get moving again, the therapist must be neutral, on the sidelines, and at the same time have a lively and acute consciousness. However, R. Becker insisted on the simplicity of this approach. The complexity is the simplicity of this mechanism.”