Posture and Physio

Posture is the situation wherein a person holds their body while standing, sitting or resting. Good posture prepares the body to stand, walk, sit and lie with minimal strain on muscles and tendons while moving or performing weight-bearing exercises.

Dynamic posture is how one holds their body when they are moving, similar to when they are strolling, running, or twisting around to get something.

Static posture is how one holds their physique when they are not moving, similar to when they are sitting, standing or asleep. Body sections are adjusted and kept up within fixed positions.

Importance of a Good Posture:

Regardless of whether a person is sitting, standing, strolling or resting, having great posture considers the proper appropriation of powers all through the body, especially the spine. When this load is appropriated equally, a person can stay away from excessive strain on joints, tendons, and musculature all through the body.

  • It helps enhance super self-confidence.
  • Good posture helps with better breathing.
  • Well maintained posture helps with back relief.
  • It also helps with improved mood.
  • It is optimal for digestion.
  • Posture helps with looking well-shaped and intelligent.
  • It helps in reducing headaches.
  • As a long-term health benefit, it helps when a person ages to maintain a sense of decorum and health in the body, keeping the mind sharp and active.
  • It also helps as an energy booster.
  • A good posture helps improved concentration.
  • It helps keep bones and joints in correct alignment so that our muscles are used correctly, decreasing the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that could result in degenerative arthritis and joint pain.
  • It reduces the stress on the ligaments holding the spinal joints together, minimising the likelihood of injury.
  • It allows muscles to work more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy and prevent muscle fatigue.
  • It helps prevent muscle strain, overuse disorders, and even back and muscular pain.

Posture and Health:

Poor posture can be bad for your health. It can cause the following conditions.

  • Misalign your musculoskeletal system.
  • Increase pressure on the spine, making it more prone to injury and degeneration.
  • Cause neck, shoulder, and back pain.
  • Decrease flexibility.
  • Affect how well joints move.
  • Affect balance and increase risk of falling.
  • Make it harder to digest food.
  • Make it harder to breathe.
  • The Relationship between Posture and Pain. There are many theories that bad posture is a contributing factor in low back pain. Some studies have shown that improved posture and postural control can have a positive effect on pain.

Role of Physiotherapy:

Muscle tightness, coming about because of delayed stances and related prior attributes, can prompt changes in pressure conveyance over joint surfaces and may prompt degeneration. Poor prolonged outlook will likewise debilitate postural muscles, making it progressively more challenging to improve posture.

A physiotherapist can help and will start by leading a careful evaluation of the patient’s posture. This can include:

  • Detailed postural observation
  • Muscle length, strength and muscle control testing
  • Full joint assessment
  • Evaluation of functional tasks

To keep up with appropriate posture, one needs to have sufficient muscle adaptability and strength, typical joint movement in the spine and other body locales, just as productive postural muscles adjusted on the two sides of the spine. Furthermore, individuals should perceive their postural propensities at home and in the working environment and work to address them. By incorporating this information, one can forestall the physical changes that poor posture is left uncorrected.

References:

All, P. for. (n.d.). Posture correction. PHYSIO FOR ALL. Retrieved October 13, 2021, from https://www.physio4all.com/therapies/posture-correction/.

Phys, S. X. (2021, September 3). The importance of good posture – physiotherapy mudgeeraba. Studio X Phys. Retrieved October 13, 2021, from https://studioxphys.com.au/posture/.

Physio, P. (2016, February 3). Posture and physiotherapy. Philip Wood Physiotherapy. Retrieved October 13, 2021, from https://philipwoodphysio.net.au/posture-and-physiotherapy/.

* Contact Reach Physiotherapy for a list of references used for this blog content.