Posture can affect the body physiologically in a variety of ways. Good posture creates better alignment of the organs, reducing indigestion; strengthens major muscle groups; and significantly reduces back and shoulder pain. Poor posture can cause pain in the back, neck and shoulders, as well as reduced lung function and a variety of other detrimental physical conditions.
Effects on the Back
Poor posture can lead to pain in the upper back, between the shoulder blades and in the lower back. Without proper alignment, the vertebral column cannot maintain its natural curves, compromising both the strength and the flexibility of the spine. Repeated compromise of the curves in the spine can lead to muscle contractions that cause minor pain, followed by muscle spasms. Researchers believe spasms occur when the body attempts to prevent further movements that will cause pain by tightening the muscles around the spine. In the back, the most common result of poor posture is a condition called low back syndrome, caused by repeated muscular imbalances when a person either tilts or hyperextends the back.
Effects on the Lungs
Proper posture enables optimal lung function by allowing the rib cage and diaphragm to expand to their fullest extent. When people hunch forward, the chest and abdomen become constricted, reducing lung volume, with the result that they need to take shallower, less efficient breaths. By lifting the rib cage and lengthening the spine, people can breathe and speak with less effort. Because of the correlation between posture and lung function, singers, sprinters and professional athletes, always striving for peak performance, train to never slouch.
Effects on the Digestive System
While poor posture compresses the digestive system, proper alignment gives abdominal organs enough space that food and excretions can flow optimally through the gastrointestinal tract. Without the ability to expand appropriately, the gastrointestinal track becomes constricted, which can lead to gas, constipation and acid reflux. From an aesthetic standpoint, good posture also allows the abdomen to fully expand upward, creating the look of a firmer abdominal wall simply by giving more space for the organs below the rib cage.
Occupational Concerns
Poor posture in truck drivers has been shown to have extremely detrimental effects on the neck and lower back. Research has also shown a strong correlation between poor posture during performance of clerical duties and pain in the back, neck and arms. A 2002 study by Meryl Lovarini showed that short-term musculoskeletal discomfort could be reduced by ergonomic interventions that corrected office workers' posture. In the study, researchers worked to educate their test subjects on maintaining proper alignment throughout the workday.
Proper Posture
Posture is proper when the vertebrae are stacked up evenly, allowing the spinal column to remain balanced. While good posture differs slightly for each person, depending on individual physiological makeup, there are certain universal traits. The head reaches upward, the shoulders are relaxed to be drawn away from the ears and the upper body is stacked above the hips, not leaning forward or backward. The belly button is drawn in toward the spine, allowing the abdominal muscles to support the back and digestive organs. Posture is not proper when a person slumps forward, leans forward while standing or stands with an excessive lumbar curve (creating a swaybacked position).
References
- "Young, Sexy and Healthy;" Elma Schnapp, M.D., and Moacir Schnapp, M.D.; 2007
- "Fitness Theory and Practice;" Peg Jordan, R.N.; 1997
- Occupational Therapy Critically Appraised Topics: Does Training in Workplace Adjustment . . .
