Most of us have a rough idea of what posture means. Usually it’s something like holding yourself upright, with a vague sense that slouching is bad.
And we talk about posture a lot here. It’s in our name, and it comes up in nearly every conversation we have in clinic. But it’s still a word that’s easier to use than it is to define. So, let’s take a closer look at what it actually means and why it’s so important.
What is the Definition of Posture?
Your posture is essentially how your body positions itself against gravity. It’s the relationship between your head, spine, pelvis, and limbs, and this applies whether you’re sitting still or moving around.
Your spine has three natural curves:
- One at your neck (cervical)
- One through your mid back (thoracic)
- And one in your lower back (lumbar).
Good posture keeps these curves intact with your head above your shoulders and your shoulders above your hips.
But then, reality doesn’t always support good posture. As you work at a desk for hours, you might absentmindedly start slouching forward. When you walk, you might find yourself compensating for different types of bags you carry around with you. And this might go on for months or years before you start to notice any discomfort.
Types of Posture
Posture is usually split into two categories, depending on whether you’re moving:
- Static posture: This is how you hold yourself when you’re still, such as sitting at your desk, standing in a queue, or lying in bed.
- Dynamic posture: This is how you hold yourself when you’re moving, such as walking, lifting, bending down, or running.
Within those, our bodies tend to fall into familiar patterns. The most common ones include:
- Forward head posture: Your head drifts ahead of your shoulders, usually after years of looking down at a screen.
- Excessive kyphosis: An exaggerated rounding through the upper back, often called a hunchback or dowager’s hump. A degree of kyphosis is normal, but it can become overstated.
- Anterior pelvic tilt: Your pelvis tips forward, deepening the curve in your lower back and pushing your stomach out.
- Swayback: Your hips push forward while your upper body leans back to compensate.
Interestingly, one postural change may create another as your body compensates to keep your eyes level and your weight balanced. It all tends to accumulate and add up.
For example, your head weighs around 5 kgs; when it sits forward compared to your shoulders, the muscles in your neck and upper back have to work that much harder. Over months and years, this extra load may lead to stiffness or a nagging ache between your shoulder blades.
And that’s exactly why posture is so hard to change by simply “trying harder.” At Posture & Wellness, we use Advanced Biostructural Correction™ (ABC™), which works on the principle that some bones shift in a direction the body can’t reverse on its own. Interested in learning more about your posture? Book your FREE discovery call with your local Finsbury Park chiropractor. BOOK NOW.