The Myth of “Good” Posture

Body Posture

How many times have you been told in your life to stand up straight, keep your shoulders
back, or maybe that if you don’t stand up straight, you’ll pay for it later? From the time
we’re small, we’re often told the “right” way to stand and sit. But what if I told you that
everything you’ve heard about having good posture isn’t necessarily true?
First of all, what is good posture, anyway? Most people would describe this as having your
back straight with your spine in perfect alignment, and the shoulders, back, and head
neutral. There are even postural analysis charts and testing to determine if someone is in
perfect alignment. But here’s the thing…

perfect Body Posture doesn’t really exist

My posture is probably going to be slightly different than yours and different from your neighbors, your
coworkers, or your spouse. Our bodies are unique, our lifestyles are unique, and our
posture and alignment is going to be just as unique. This is why it’s often uncomfortable, or
even painful, to hold “perfect posture” if we’re not used to it. That’s because you’re putting
your body into an abnormal-for-you position. Instead of thinking of good posture as some
sort of perfect line you’re supposed to keep your body in, think of it more in terms of
positioning the body in a way that allows body parts, like muscles, ligaments, joints, etc. to
function to their full capacity, and without creating some sort of pain or injury. The
optimal position of your body depends on your body’s needs and what it has become
accustomed to over time.
Our bodies adapt according to our lifestyle or pregnancy condition.
If, for most of your life, you’ve maintained the
posture that’s commonly considered ‘correct’

then that’s how your body posture will naturally held

hold as you go about your life. If, however, you’ve lived much of your life bending forward,
your Body Posture may look ‘bad’, bad Body Posture. but you have no ill effects of it; no pain, no loss of function,
etc. Perfect alignment is almost impossible to achieve at all times for most people, and for
many, it may actually cause problems to constantly force yourself into that position. Again,
our bodies and our lifestyles are so unique to one another. My spine’s normal may be
different than your spine’s normal. This isn’t to say that pain is normal, or that you
shouldn’t strive to make sure you are doing the most you can for your spine health, but it
just doesn’t make sense to compare apples to oranges. Finding what your body’s ultimate
posture is, is key to your spinal health.

It’s important to note that movement is key in maintaining your body’s back health because
sitting in the same position for long periods of time can be stressful on the spine, no matter
how ‘good’ your holding posture is

This doesn’t mean we should sit in awkward positions and throw the entire idea of
alignments out the window. But the important thing isn’t necessarily how you stand or sit
throughout the day, but rather the strength of the muscles that support the spine. The
stronger and more balanced those muscles, the ‘safer’ the spine remains even in seemingly
abnormal positions.

It's important how you sit or stand
throughout your working day, it's your Body Posture

You’ll hear many professionals make the claim that your poor body posture is causing your back
pain, neck pain, or whatever else you complain of; but for many, the natural posture our
body feels most comfortable in may very well be preventing our pain from worsening or
appearing at all. Anytime we discuss posture, it’s important to determine if your posture is
causing your pain, or if your pain is causing your posture. Is your back hurting because you
round forward, or are you rounding forward in an instinctual way of protecting your back?
So, don’t buy into the hype of perfect posture, and the thousands of types of expensive
devices and tools that promise to give you that perfect pose. If you’re not hurting from the
way you sit and stand now, it may very well not be necessary to mess with it. If you are
experiencing pain, it’s best to talk with a professional about what’s really happening wand
what truly needs to be done about it.