Monarto Revelations

Reviewed August 2026

A trip to Monarto Plains Zoo recently reminded me vividly of the wonders of nature. More specifically, it reminded me of the fact that human problems of the frame that I help people with every day have been surmounted by evolution on other branches of the evolutionary tree. There are animals out there who have no need to acknowledge issues that can cause us great difficulty. I thought I would share with you some of my observations about where evolution has solved problems that are common to the human frame.

Number 1. Forward head carriage ~ the White Rhinoceros has this one covered.

• We know forward head carriage on a human causes our necks and upper backs to do a great deal more work compared to when we are maintaining good posture, and with time this will cause spinal dysfunction, neck pain and headaches [read more at https://bit.ly/3uIYOUA]
• Being grass grazers, white rhino have their heads (360-450 Kg!!) suspended in front of their body. They lift it rarely, but to do so requires a huge muscle that sits on the back of their neck behind their head. This can be seen as a huge hump behind their head.
• As many people come to me concerned about an apparent "hump" at the base of their necks [Note ~ on humans this is not a muscle] the white rhino's solution may not be a welcome one, but it is very effective!

Number 2. Birth, schmirth ~ kangaroo's and other marsupials have a pouch!

• Women have been doing it for a couple of hundred thousand years and it's a miracle of nature, but carrying and birthing a baby can be rough on a woman's body.
• Kangaroos have a pouch for easy access to the bub at all times plus their teats are inside that pouch so the baby ‘roo can self manage feeding. Much less work for all concerned, though sources reliably inform me that most obstetricians would be even happier with a zip front opening to many a womb.
• At the ACC we work with expectant mothers to keep them comfortable despite the postural changes that occur throughout pregnancy and we ensure they have the knowledge and confidence in their bodies to deal with the birth of their baby. [Click on the following link to read more about chiropractic care during pregnancy ~ here]

Number 3. Wonky balance ~ oh for a Spider Monkey's tail!

• Our clever brain coordinates data from our joints (especially the neck and ankles), our inner ear and our eyes to establish where we are in space and which way is up – our sense of balance.
• Our sense of balance is a learned thing (imagine a toddler mastering walking by endeavouring not to fall) so it's also a skill that deteriorates through lack of use. At the ACC, helping people to optimise their sense of balance is something we do every day.
• Poor balance can be due to changes in your eyes, ears, joints (such as old injuries or the deterioration that comes with time) or just lack of practise. Whatever the reason, poor balance leads to increased falls risk as we age and is also associated with early mortality risk [read more @ https://bit.ly/3d6y0Ye]
• Spider monkeys have a prehensile tail which they can move independently. This tail is capable of grasping like a hand and is a huge aid in maintaining the monkey's balance as it scampers through the forest canopy.

Number 4. Difficulty checking the blind spot while driving? An owl would have no trouble with that.

• The curves in a human spine allow us to balance our weight and transfer it through our body to the ground. The lordosis (or backward facing C curve) in our necks is a magnificent construction of bone and ligament that allows our neck 180 degrees of movement so we can move our head 90 degrees to look right and 90 degrees to look left. Most of this rotation happens between the top 2 vertebrae in the neck.
• When the joints in your neck are not moving well there is often an associated limitation of movement and sometimes neck pain or headaches. As chiropractors, we can help with this.
• Evolution has gifted owls with a neck that has a S curve, as opposed to our C curve, so they can turn their head 180 degrees to look behind them looking either left or right. There's no sneaking up behind an owl!

Number 5. Back trouble from working bent over at the waist? ~ the giraffes have the answer to this one.

• From DIY projects to dish washing, cooking to gardening and working over benches that are not at the correct height for your body ~ all create the 5 degree bend through the lower spine that increases the forces on the structures of the lower back and, with time, cause dysfunction and pain.
• standing with your legs wide to bring you down to an appropriate working level (or put bricks under the legs of the bench to bring it up to your level!!) will return the spine to better ergonomics.
• The giraffe, with the longest neck and tallest frame in the animal world, models this beautifully when it bends to drink at ground level.
• So remember to take a wider stance at the bench or sink and be kinder to your back! Also, have a conversation about ergonomics with the chiro at your next visit ~ little changes can make a huge difference when it comes to creating a work space that works with your body rather than against it.

One of the other marvellous things about Monarto is the fact there is accessibility via bus for those who don't move well, but there's also 10km of walking trails for those who prefer to move themselves - or you can do a happy mix of the two.