Book review by: Daniel Sosnoski, editor-in-chief, Chiropractic Economics magazine

Among the many things we take for granted, our ability to walk and run upright ranks foremost. Unlike every other mammal, humans alone spend their lives balancing on two legs. This gives us an advantage over other animals in several respects, but it also comes at a heavy cost.

The price we pay for our unique style of gait is the subject of Dr. Michael Flanagan’s text, “The Downside of Upright Posture.” Writing almost in the style of a mystery author, Flanagan leads the reader along the story of his own questioning and research, and shows how he reached his startling conclusions — that the structure of the cervical spine and base of the skull that allow us to stand and walk also facilitate the onset of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkison’s, and multiple sclerosis.

Flanagan’s research began over two decades ago, almost by chance when he happened to view a human skeleton from below. He suspected that many common cognitive and neurological disorders may be closely linked to the features of the upper cervical area that developed to accord with our upright posture.

That was the insight, but it would take him several decades to work out the details. The book walks the reader carefully through his search for the clues and evidence

that underpin his hypothesis.

Given his academic background as a doctor of chiropractic and diplomate of the American College of Chiropractic Neurology, it’s no surprise that Flanagan has written his text at a moderately technical level. Those comfortable with reading medical literature will feel at home. For the layperson, it’s a good introduction to basic neurological anatomy, biology and circulation, and physical anthropology.

Any reader with an interest in the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders should find ample material of interest in the book’s 211 pages, which include 20 full-color plates that clarify the discussions of physiology and descriptions of human anatomy. The book culminates in a dramatic turn of events in which Flanagan needs to employ the hard-won knowledge he’s gained.

In an extended conclusion, the author speculates on the meaning of his research and its philosophical implications. The text should be of interest to the chiropractor, the student of biology and neurological medicine, and general readers with curiosity about physiology and human development.

You can buy the book through the author’s website at http://uprightdoc.com/ or through bookstores and Amazon.com. College bookstores or anyone interested in quantity purchases should contact the author directly at uprightdoc@earthlink.net.