In today’s fasting moving world, we are constantly expected to deliver our targets no matter what our bodies are going through. No amount of pain, muscle loss or posture is going to be accepted as anything less than perfect, so it is highly imperative that we value each and every small aspects of our physical fitness to the tee. Maintaining a good posture is half the battle won.
Posture typically refers to the way that a person holds his body, and correct posture is the proper alignment of the spine and body. Posture is something that is often overlooked while sitting for long hours, driving, sitting with laptop or even standing. Good posture is not just keeping the back completely straight, although this is a common misconception. Correct posture is actually achieved by maintaining the three normal back curves.
When looking at a human body from the side, the spine should ideally be curved in a few spots giving it a slight S shaped. It has three parts: cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (upper portion of the back), and the lumbar spine (lower back). A variety of things can cause poor posture. If we practice consciously to maintain a good posture while sitting and other daily activities, many future muscular imbalances can be prevented which is a major root cause of rounded shoulders, stiff lower back, forward head, tilted pelvis, and so on
MUSCLE IMBALANCE
Proper postural alignment promotes optimal neural activity of the muscles controlling a joint. When joints are correctly aligned, the length-tension relationships and force-coupling relationships function efficiently, thereby good joint mechanics.
Good posture restores stability and mobility of all muscle groups leading to better movement ability. Good posture means that all body parts are symmetrically balanced around the body’s line of gravity—the intersection of mid-frontal and mid-saggital planes. This can be measured with a plumb line hanging from a fixed point and observing the body’s symmetry around the plumb line from three views: the back, the front, and side view.
Anterior view suggests that the plumb line should pass between the feet and ankles, intersect the pubis, umbilicus, sternum, manubrium (space between clavicles), chin, face, and forehead.
Posterior view– The plumb line should pass between the heels, intersect the sacrum (PSIS), and overlap the spinous processes of the spine.
Saggital view– The plumb line should pass just in front of the lateral malleolus, through the knee (front 1/3), greater trochanter, acromio clavicular joint, and slightly in front of ear lobe.
There are different manifestations of muscle imbalances due to bad postures like ankle pronation or supination, anterior/posterior pelvic tilt, rounded shoulders, forward head.
Everyone should get certain screening tests done to check their postural deviations like bend and lift screen, thoracic spine mobility, shoulder pull stabilisation screen, shoulder push stabilisation screen, overhead wall raise, Thomas test, passive straight leg screen (PLS), internal and external shoulder rotation test, apply scratch test, and also perform core screening to check sharpened Romberg test, stork balance stand test.
Correct posture helps maintain optimum stability and mobility which, in fact, reduces all muscle imbalances, wear and tear, especially on joint, muscles, and ligaments. Correct posture thus results in better appearance, aesthetic look, and higher self esteem.
Obesity and other health conditions like osteoarthritis, scoliosis can be very painful. Lifestyle changes like avoiding high heels, overstuffed bags on one’s shoulders, slouching on couches while watching TV are considered detrimental to bad posture.
The writer is a wellness and fitness expert and director, NutrifybyPoonam.
Correct posture helps maintain optimum stability and mobility which, in fact, reduces all muscle imbalances, wear and tear, especially on joint, muscles, and ligaments.
