What is poor posture?
Most people understand poor posture as slumping forward with rounded shoulders, and in the majority of cases that is probably true. So good posture could be defined as the opposite of this.
Standing and the natural curves of the spine
Consider the normal four curves of the spine as seen from the side standing: the curve in the neck (cervical) and low back (lumbar) should gently sway forward creating a Lordosis, and the curves in the mid back (thoracic) and tail bone (sacrum and coccyx) should gently sway backwards to a Kyphosis. Each area of the spine curving in the opposite direction to create a vertical wave as seen from the side.
Gravity
Now consider the gravity line (RED LINE) still seen from the side standing, which roughly falls through the middle of the cervical spine and next passes through the anterior of the lumbar (L2) and down to the hips. Deviation from these natural curves, and from the gravity line for extended periods of time either forward, back, to the sides, or in combination can have a profound affect on posture and health.
Sitting increases pressure in the back and tension in the neck.
However, when you sit down the angle at the hips and pelvis decreases to about 90º, and unless there is a tilt forward on the seat, your pelvis will start to tip backwards pulling the lumbar spine out of its lordosis. Less than 134º between the gravity line of the spine and the femur will increases pressure on the low back as the lumbar lordosis is lost (Bashir, et al, 2006)1. As sitting and working often involves leaning forward with the back and with the head, this decreases the angle of the hips and pelvis to even less than <90º. This further increases pressure in the low back, and doubles the workload on the posterior neck muscles for every inch of forward head carriage. Frequent breaks are essential to relieve work related stress and fatigue. Chronic stress has been demonstrated to lower immunity (Segerstrom & Miller, 2004)4.
Possible symptoms:
Soulder and neck pain
Low back pain
Fatigue and tiredness
Postural weakness
Inapropriate use of muscles causing stress on the nervous system
Lowered immunty
Can anything be done?
Most definitely yes! One of most common reasons for patients consulting us are to have treatment and rehabilitation of the spine and posture.
I believe peak mental states are not possible with poor posture, and that physiology is an important key to motivation and outstanding performance.
Leom Woodal DC
Sherman’s Disease: the exception
Never the less, a person may have Sherman’s disease, a condition where the vertebrae in the middle of the back have slightly collapsed at the front, creating an excessive kyphosis (Rounding of the mid back), which throws the head forward, sometimes shortening the back of the neck as a compensation. It is unlikely that dramatic changes in the spine will occur with any known treatment, but if poor posture as defined above exacerbates the Sherman’s, then improvements may be made. An X-ray or MRI will confirm a diagnosis.
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Chiropractic for Acute, Subacute and Chronic low back pain, Sciatic, Neck pain, Migraine, Cervicogenic Headache, Shoulder girdle pain and dysfunction, Adhesive Capsulitis, Tennis Elbow, Hip and Knee Osteoarthris, Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Sports injuries, Spinal Rehabilitation.
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