Posture

Posture is a general word used to describe the position of the body e.g. sitting posture, standing posture. It is also inferred that there is good and poor posture, and it has been shown that poor posture is a contributing cause of many mechanical musculo-skeletal disorders.

Posture should be defined as the best position the body can achieve using a balance of different muscle groups, using the least amount of energy to obtain and maintain a position without compromising other parts of the skeletal system. It is possible for many flexible young people to acquire a position with their body, but if they are maintaining that position and putting a strain on say the lower back, or the neck and shoulders, or the wrists etc: this could well lead to problems in later life.

The body functions well with the expenditure of the minimum of energy, but straining areas causes an imbalance with other groups of muscles becoming involved and thus uses up more energy. This is one of the reasons that poor posture can lead to tiredness, also aches and pains caused as a result of poor posture can cause sleep difficulties and further fatigue.

Poor posture can lead to reduce tone in some muscles, the abdominals for example, and increased tone in others such as the calf muscles, the latter leading to circulatory problems. A bent stooped position can reduce the capacity of lung function, the head held in the wrong position for too long can give rise to headaches, the list is endless. It is just as important to work towards a good sitting posture as standing, if your work requires you to sit a lot either at a desk or behind the wheel.

For this reason there are many classes/therapies designed to make you aware of your posture, and work towards improving it. The Alexander Technique is an example of one of them, yoga classes and relaxation classes can also make people more aware of their posture. For information on Alexander Techniques see section on that topic.

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