How Unstable is Your Leaning Tower of Pisa?
The leaning tower of Pisa is famous for its unstable foundations. It’s not somewhere you’d want to settle down in. The human body can be viewed in a similar fashion. Posture is simply the architectural makeup for your body. How you sit, stand and walk tells a lot about the stress points your body may experience. Back pain is one of the main reasons people see a physical therapist. About 80% of us will experience some degree of back pain in our lives.
Changes in posture, and veering away from neutral spine, can lead to pain in the neck, shoulders, or back, due to muscle tightness or spasms, as well as decreased flexibility, in those areas. Poor posture can be described in a few different positions. Kyphosis involves rounding of the upper back, creating a “hunchback,’ which can occur during any age. This type of posture can lead to neck, upper back, or shoulder pain. Sway back posture occurs when there is abdominal weakness, causing the pelvis to come more forward and can lead to neck and/or back pain. With flat back posture, the curvatures are reduced, and can lead to back or leg pain. Military posture is “chin up, chest out, shoulders back, stomach in,” which can also lead to neck or low back pain.
Some tips to help improve positioning: stay active and improve muscle strength and flexibility, wear comfortable shoes, switch positions (every 20 mins), make sure your workstation is set up properly so that your feet are flat on the floor, computer and chair are at the proper heights, your back and thighs are fully supported with or without cushions when you are sitting down.
Physical therapy can help to improve posture by focusing on strengthening weak muscles, especially the core, and improving flexibility. At Body Harmony Physical Therapy, our specialist physical therapy clinicians will evaluate and improve your posture using a variety of interventions including manual therapy, neuromuscular re-education, myofascial release techniques, stretching, and breathing techniques. Please contact us at 212-233-9494 and speak to a professional if you have any more questions.
Written by: Roseanne Schoen, DPT
Edited by Keely Faridi, PT
References:
https://medlineplus.gov/guidetogoodposture.html “Guide to Good Posture”
