What is Posture?
What is posture?
Posture is a term used to describe a position of the body or the
arrangements of body parts relative to one another. Ideal postures are
those assumed to perform an activity in the most efficient manner
utilizing the least amount of energy. All activity begins with a
posture and ends with a posture. The relationships between body parts
can be controlled voluntarily but to do this would require too much
concentration. During normal functioning one's postures and adjustments
to postures are automatic and occur quickly.
Posture exercises should include both stretching, strengthening, and
proprioceptive exercises and below I will explain why this is so.
Posture is Dynamic
Posture is Easy
Posture requires Coordination
Causes of Poor Movement Patterns
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Posture is Easy
What is posture? Posture should be easy. You are probably thinking that standing up straight is
not easy.
Most people would intuitively consider postural muscles as those that
hold a body upright, standing, against gravity. For perfectly erect
standing, however, very little muscle activity is needed. Joints are
balanced on one another in such a way as to minimize the work necessary
to hold one upright against gravity. Posture in these terms is thought
of as static. How often do we just stand there? People need to move to
function and to work, so I will talk of posture on this page as the
positions we assume during the day in preparation for other positions
we assume. We are always preparing to move whether it be to pick up a
mouse or walk to the store. In this way we can think of posture as
dynamic, always changing.
If you have some tight muscles, however, more muscle activity may be
required to work against the tight muscles to hold a joint in its
neutral position. In this way stretching will help you maintain good
postures. Muscles that typically become tight are often referred to as
the tonic muscles when discussing
how to improve posture.
Posture is Dynamic
What is posture? Posture is dynamic. In order to function optimally, muscles must work at their optimum
length and be long enough to allow for coordinated movement. Obviously
a muscle that is tight will not allow a joint to move through its full
range of motion. To avoid joint injury, joints must work within a range
that they can maintain stability. As we move from one posture to
another we must learn to do it efficiently, within this stable range or
risk injury. A physical therapist will assess dynamic posture by
examining each posture assumed individually and observing how an
individual transitions between each posture.
Why is examining dynamic posture important?
it is usually during these transitions from one posture to another that
injury occurs. Probably one of the most important times for one to
maintain good posture is during lifting. The chest is up, feet shoulder
width apart, head centred over the shoulders, the item to be lifted
close to one's base of support, and hips at an angle so that one feels
like one is pushing through the floor. Deviation from this takes one's
joints and muscles outside of their optimal range of performance and
increases risk of injury.
Posture requires Coordination
What is posture? It requires coordination. The movement between one static posture and another requires the coordinated timing and recruitment of muscles specific to the task at hand. It is a programmed pattern of muscle activity that the body counts on to maintain stability. Some of these programmed patterns of movement are hard wired in the central nervous system, others are learned. For instance, when we open a heavy door there is a coordinated sequence of muscle contractions in your abdominal, back and lower extremity muscles that occurs even before you start pulling on the door with your hand.
Causes of Poor Movement Patterns
Poor movement patterns can result from any of the following:
- Joint dysfunction
- Pain
- Stress
- Central nervous system disorder/injury
- Overwork or overtraining
- Prolonged postures or repetition of the same activity
The movements controlled by normal reflex mechanisms are very small alterations in the position of the skeleton, shoulders, and pelvis. These normal reflex mechanisms are learned as an infant and become automatic reactions to changes in posture. The functioning of this system is dependent on adequate proprioception (position sense), strength, vision, and other sensory input. Because of this we can not look at the muscles' functioning without looking at the sensory input.
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