Posture Experts

In a society often considered to be unhealthily motivated by physical appearance it is extraordinary that so little time is spent contemplating the importance of posture. Postural health or lack there of has many implications on musculoskeletal wellbeing. Poor posture can invite injury, cause fatigue and make recovering from illness harder work than is necessary.

The spine should ideally curve gently through a mild “S” shape. This enables shock absorbency and weight transference down through the spine to the pelvis. The vertebral bodies house and protect the spinal cord. This role is often undertaken at the expense of all else as it is of course the most important.

Sitting is the major postural challenge that most of us face on a daily basis. Our spines are simply not designed to be held in such a position for prolonged periods. Historically, humans tended to squat, lie or move rather than sit in a perched position.

When sitting at a desk it is important that the workstation be optimally positioned. There should be plenty of room under the desk for the lower limb enabling the user to sit near to his/her work station with feet flat on the floor and their back against the back of the chair. Crossing legs at the thigh whilst working can distort the pelvis applying a strain through the low back and subsequently increasing the pressure on the spinal column generally.

Good posture is the most comfortable and energy effective position a body can be in. It reduces stress on the joints, muscles and sinews. Ergonomics is simply good posture in working environments. Good posture reduces uneven wear and tear and allows for a longer, happier, more mobile life.

If posture has in the past been somewhat slumped and poor, initially adopting a correct posture may well produce some mild discomfort. When we slump weight is transferred from the muscles to the joints. In the short term this feels relaxing, as the muscles do not have to work as hard. However, this increases the strain on a joint in a resting position, which reduces stability and increases the chance of injury on any further exertion.

Posture can be held accountable many symptoms for increasing feelings of fatigue. Those of us who slump over a computer or workstation for hours at a time rarely inflate the lungs to an adequate degree. The lungs cannot fully inflate when the spine is slumped. This encourages shallower breathing this in turn exacerbates feelings of fatigue.

When effort is made to improve posture whether that be self-control of work posture, Pilates, yoga or core stability techniques, insidious onset of mechanical injuries fall dramatically. However, on the whole society is still focusing heavily on only dealing with problems that are symptomatic. This may well be a false economy in the longer term.