Posture is the positioning of the body that creates the least amount of stress on the joints. The best posture in a chair or lying in bed is when the joints are in the neutral position. For this reason, posture is an important part of health, because it helps the patient avoid injury in several areas of the body. Even with instructions as simple as "sit up straight," it's still hard to remember throughout the day.
Significance
Slouching over or sitting at a computer desk doesn't cause immediate problems, but over time the skeletal joints begin to wear. Keeping joints in the neutral position avoids stress that can turn into pain as the patient ages. Poor posture, such as slumping over when sitting, can lead to postural dysfunction. This occurs when the muscles change shape, and it leads to back pain and permanent slouching.
Features
Posture falls under several features, including sitting, standing and sleeping. When sitting down, the patient's back should be straight and the elbows and wrists should be in the neutral position. The neutral position means that the forearm is angled below the elbow and the wrists are relaxed. Sleep posture is important for the back. The back should be straight and without awkward positioning. When standing, the patient should keep shoulders back and avoid slouching them forward.
Effects
Good posture results in proper muscle fiber tension. When muscles have the correct length and width, they assist the skeleton is sitting up and standing straight. When a patient has poor posture, the muscles become too short in tight in some areas and too long in others. This leads to the hunched posture seen in some people.
Correction
A patient can correct poor posture even after the negative effects. If a patient has been sitting, standing or sleeping incorrectly, the effects can be reversed. The reversal process takes time, but patients can practice good posture to rebuild muscles. Sit up straight, keep shoulders back and sleep with the back straight. Through time, the slouching reverses and the patient can alleviate some of the negative effects of bad posture, including pain.
Prevention
Aside from practicing good posture, exercise helps correct and prevent effects. Weightlifting builds muscle and bone density. This helps the patient keep good posture and avoid the pain. Lifting weights three to four times a week can help a patient avoid bad posture and keep the muscles fit and healthy.
