We are our own worst enemy...

We ourselves are essentially responsible for our back troubles. Most of us don't get the proper physical conditioning to benefit our spines. We exercise haphazardly and without warming up properly. We gain too much weight, ride rather than walk, sprawl on soft sofas and chairs, develop pot bellies and sway backs and subject our backs to unnecessary twists and turns by lifting and carrying things improperly. If we learned to treat our backs smartly, we could help beat the odds on backaches.

Posture is the way in which you stand, sit or lie. It should be possible to relax in whatever posture you have adopted and still maintain good muscle tone. If you relax and your posture collapses, then this is an indication that body stability needs to be trained.

  

It is important to be aware of the potential reasons for deviations in posture. Some of these might include genetics, trauma, disease, previous surgery, congenital, ergonomics, poor training techniques and stress.

 

It must also be decided if the postural defect is structural or functional. A structural defect could include a leg that is shorter than the other, which could only be corrected by the use of an orthotic, or a structural scoliosis, which might require surgical correction. A functional defect could include defective posture, which can be actively corrected

 

Good Posture consists of the following:

• Level earlobes
• Level shoulders
• Equal distance between ear and shoulder
• Chin balanced over the shoulders
• Equal spaces between arms and body
• Shoulder over hip over knee over ankle
• Appropriate thoracic and lumbar curves
• Vertical spine from posterior view
• Level hips
• Level kneecaps
• Equal contour of calf muscles
• Equal and appropriate arch of the feet

 

 

Posture has also been described as another name for position. It is a natural body alignment which allows one to move in a pain free efficient way.

 

"Sit up straight!" "Don't slouch!"

 

Basically posture refers to the body's alignment and positioning with respect to the ever-present force of gravity. Whether we are standing, sitting or lying down gravity exerts a force on our joints, ligaments and muscles. Good posture entails distributing the force of gravity through our body so no one structure is overstressed.

 

 An architect has to take these same laws of gravity and weight distribution into account when he or she designs a building. And like a building with a poor foundation a body with poor posture is less resistant to the strains and stresses we experience over the months, years and decades of life.

 

 

 

 

Sitting and standing with proper postural alignment will allow one to work more efficiently with less fatigue and strain on your body's ligaments and muscles. Being aware of good posture is the first step to breaking old poor postural habits and reducing stress and strain on your spine. By putting this knowledge into practice one can prevent the structural anatomical changes that can develop if poor posture is left uncorrected for many years. So to repeat an old adage you may also have heard from your mother: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Thanks Mom!