The Importance of Good Posture
“Good posture” is extremely important. Good posture equals the most efficient position using the least amount of energy for a particular activity. The spine has three curves when viewed from the side. In proper standing posture, it should have an S-shape appearance with the neck and lower back curving in a similar direction and the middle curved in the opposite direction. The ear aligns over the shoulder, which aligns over the hip and ankle.
Babies are actually born with a C-shaped spine with little muscle strength in their back and neck. As they develop, curves begin to form as the neck and back get stronger. The curves act like a spring coil for shock absorption, so jumping off a truck tailgate doesn’t give you a brain concussion.
When viewed from a side profile, if the ear is in front of the shoulder, a forward head posture is indicated. The muscles in the back of the neck have to work harder to keep the head balanced. You can tell how stable your head and neck are by pushing gently on the top of the head.
If the bones are balanced one on top of the other, the neck will not move and your muscles easily maintain the position. A forward head posture places more stress on the lower back muscles to keep the head from falling forward in standing. A forward head also puts more stress on the back teeth while chewing, possibly creating more stress on the jaw joint.
My theory is the shoulder can develop rotator cuff problems, bursitis and tendonitis with poor posturing. Rounded shoulders make it harder to raise your arm over your head. Rounded shoulders also make it harder to breathe deeply, decreasing the oxygen in the system.
To improve your posture, look in the mirror and see how you look from the front and side. At least try to get the ear over the shoulder, the shoulder over the hip and the hip over the ankle from a side view. If you have longstanding postural abnormalities, you may not want to change too quickly. There may also be bony changes, like scoliosis or osteoporosis, which may not allow for an upright, straight posture.
Try to move your body into a more symmetrical and balanced position. Listen to your body for what feels comfortable. Sometimes it may feel like more work to hold a balanced position, but after a week or two it gets easier and feels better.
It takes about 21 days to change a habit. You have to switch from automatic pilot to conscious control and monitor your posture every hour while awake. Patients usually feel a difference within a week.
There may be barriers to optimizing your posture. Hopefully, the benefits outweigh the barriers and you will soon be on the road to better health.
