Lateralization, as we have said previously, is the shift of the jaw in regard to the skull to one particular side. Lateralization is different from lateral deviation because the skull and the jaw do not change their inclination, but limit themselves to shifting.
The phases of lateralization can be superimposed on those of lateral deviation. Nevertheless there are two fundamental differences:
1) Lateralization happens faster than lateral deviation.
2) Lateralization of the jaw towards the left generates the same kind of descending musculoskeletal dysfunction as does an opposing lateral deviation. For example, lateralization of the jaw to the right generates the same type of problems as lateral deviation to the left.
Let’s take as an example picture 77 which shows a skeleton in Phase 3. In this picture lateralization of the jaw can be noticed. As we can see the jaw has shifted to the left of the skull. The weight of the skull rests on the right shoulder. This has raised itself in order to support the weight of the skull.
Thus the musculature on the right side gets shorter due to the laws of muscular plasticity.
In picture 78 let’s take a look at the soccer player, Eric Abidal. We trace a line that passes through the center of the soccer player’s chest and divides it in half.
Thanks to this vertical line (black) we see that the skull is displaced to the right and that his jaw has shifted to the left.
Comparing this picture (78) with the one immediately preceding it (77), we can see that they can be superimposed in terms of musculoskeletal compensation.
It is important to remember that there isn’t only lateralization, or only lateral deviation; we can have both phenomena at the same time. These phenomena produce variances that interact with one another to create displacement and have an influence on one another as well.
For example, lateral deviation and lateralization can be found on opposite sides to one another, or even on the same side. All these variances induce different types of musculoskeletal compensations and with each of them, one has different symptoms.
