POSTURE

“To live a long, active, energetic life, few things matter more than a good posture”

How often have you caught yourself in the mirror and immediately pulled in your tummy and raised your chest? It sometimes seems an uphill struggle to try and be posture perfect, but does it actually really matter? Since the human race as we know it today, evolved to walk and stand on our hind legs we have had a constant battle with gravity. We take for granted that our bones, ligaments and muscles will work in perfect harmony to ensure we are continually active and able to lead our chosen lifestyles. That supposes of course that we maintain the right mix of rigidity, flexibility and strength in our structures to support our bodies.

Chiropractic theories and treatment procedures have long been based on the concept that postural stress resulting from faulty alignment of body segments is a major factor in the development of musculo-skeletal pain and premature degenerative arthritis. New evidence obtained from magnetic resonancing imaging (MRI) procedures has now confirmed these clinical observations with scientific knowledge. The results demonstrate not only the detrimental effects of altered biomechanics on bones and joints, but also the rapid benefits of the removal of these misalignments.

Causes for poor posture are varied and complex, but include poor work/study/resting posture at computer screens, desks and watching TV. These will inevitably lead to spinal stiffness and gradual fusion of the spine whilst other joints are over used causing further damage. Other factors that lead to poor posture include psychological factors like low self esteem, degenerative conditions like osteoporosis, guarding postures due to neck and back pain and excess weight. Symptoms can be aggravated by either a trauma; for example whiplash of through repetitive stressing such as poor sleep habits, and sitting at a computer.

In the clinical environment posture is a key factor in any physical assessment. Careful note will be taken of several key signs. These are a few:

• Outward turning of one or both feet
• The alignment of the knees
• The levelling of the hips and pelvis
• Height difference across the shoulders
• Tilting of the head or neck
• Forward tilting of the pelvis
• Increase in spinal curvatures

To avoid or at best limit the potential damage from poor posture we need to strive to achieve a harmonious balance between the weights, forces and tensions in our bodies...

So how best to address posture?

Throwing oneself into unsupervised physical training is unlikely to realise real benefits that might address those imbalances that are now all too obvious. Any strengthening exercise will tend to favour the already dominant muscles at the cost of the weak muscles groups. Stretching may offer temporary relief but joint instability will continue to cause the involuntary tightening of muscles.

Core stability is a rather overused expression to describe those key muscles that are fundamental to our ongoing fitness and stability. Core stability is essential to both injury prevention and posture. The body’s core muscles are in fact the intrinsic small deep muscles that provide the foundation for all movement and help stabilise the spine, pelvis and provide a sound basis for movement of the extremities.   Theses core muscles lie deep within the torso and include the transverse abdominus (abdominal), multifidus (deep lumbar) and gluteus medius (pelvis). When these muscles are contracting they provide a solid base of support that allows us to generate powerful movements of the extremities.

Any exercise regime must firstly isolate one specific muscle group, but to be efficient and effective engage the core muscles at the same time. The whole body approach involves choosing exercises that require the core muscles to maintain correct posture and alignment with the legs and arms. Exercises that develop core strength include exercise on a stability ball, work with medicine balls, wobble boards, Pilates and Yoga.

Posture may have been captured as an expression of physical standing, but in the clinical context in which chiropractors work it has real significance for the patient.

All of us have reason to be interested in our postures.