SAJIDA BIBI NOONARI
Posture
Posture is a term that used to defined as an
alignment of body segments
The attitude that the body assumes is known as
posture
It is considered as the relative arrangement of
parts of the body. It changes with the positions
and movements of the body throughout life and
throughout the day.
Posture
Types of Postures
The posture are basically divided in to two types:
Inactive
Active
a) Static b) Dynamic
Inactive postures- These are postures or
attitudes adopted for resting or sleeping.
They require theoretically minimal muscle
activity, and are usually assumed in need of
relaxation.
Active posture - The integrated action of many muscles
is required to maintain active postures, they are
basically divided in two types
Static postures Dynamic postures
Body segments are In this type of posture
aligned and maintained body segments are
in a fixed positions. Static moving. Posture adopted
posture is that of the while the body is in action.
body at rest. Examples Examples are walking,
of static postures are running, jumping,
standing, sitting, lying, throwing, and lifting.
and kneeling.
static posture
Dynamic posture
Optimal posture
Ideal posture is in one
which body segments
are aligned vertically
and LOG passes through
all joints axes.( close to)
Ideal posture requires
least amount of
muscular support that
minimize the stress on
joints and reduces load
on ligaments and
muscles.
Postural alignment
An optimal standing posture COG of the body lies
at 55-57% of the height of person above the
ground or approximately the level of 2nd sacral
vertebra.
Line of gravity falls:
Anterior or within the atlanto-occipital joints
Slightly or with in the shoulder joint
Usually falls through the bodies of all vertebrae
Slightly posterior to hip (approximately 1.8 cm)
Anterior to the knee
slightly anterior to lateral malleolus
Good Posture
Posture is good when it fulfils the purpose
for which it is used with the maximum
efficiency and minimum effort.
A good posture is the state of muscular and
skeletal balance which protects the
supporting structures of the body against
injury and progressive deformities,
irrespective of the attitude in which these
structures are working or resting.
Development of good posture
Essential mechanisms for the maintenance and adjustments
of good posture are intact (working properly) and healthy
These factors are following
A stable psychological background
Good hygienic conditions
Opportunity for plenty of natural free movements
Poor Posture / faulty posture
Poor posture is the posture that results
from certain muscles tightening up or
shortening while others lengthen and
become weak.
This often occurs as a result of one’s
daily activities.
Poor Posture
There are different factors which can impact on posture and
they include
occupational activities
biomechanical factors such as force and repetition.
psychosocial factors such as job stress and strain. Workers
who have higher job stress are more likely to develop neck
and shoulder symptoms.
Factors predisposing to poor
posture
General factors
Mental attitude of the patient
Poor hygienic conditions
Generally after illness
Prolonged fatigue
Factors that influence Posture…
Aging- your body gradually loses its capacity to absorb and
transfer forces however its not aging that influences posture as
does:
Inactivity/sedentary living/reluctance to exercise -leads to loss of
natural movement flow,
Poor postural habits -eventually becomes your structure,
Biomechanical compensation → muscle imbalance, adaptive
shortening, muscle weakness & instability within the “core”,
Body composition – increases load, stresses on spinal structure,
leads to spinal deviation,
Workspace –ergonomics,
Poor movement technique/execution/training ,
Injury -leads to reduced loading capacity or elasticity,
Others:
*Posture is the single most common cause of painful soft tissue
syndromes affecting the body!
Common Spinal
Deformities
or
characteristics of
postural abnormalities
Hyper lordotic posture
Excessive anterior curvature of
the spine
Exaggeration of normal
curves in the cervical &
lumbar spines
Increase lumbosacral angle(
anterior pelvic tilt) and hip
flexion.
Compensatory increase to
the thoracic kyphosis
(kypholordosis)
Lordosis CAUSES
› Postural deformity
› Lax muscles (esp. abs)
› Heavy abdomen
› Compensatory mechanisms
› Hip flexion contracture
› Congenital problems
› Fashion (high heels)
Increase Kyphosis
(dowager's hump)
Excessive posterior curvature
of the spine
Round back and shoulders
Humpback/gibbus
Flat back
Forward position of head(
cervical lordosis)
Protraction of the scapulae
Causes are slouching and
muscles stress
Relaxed /Swayback posture
Pelvis shifted forward, resulting
in hip extension and increase
thoracic kyphosis and lumber
lordosis
Increased pelvic inclination (40)
Typically includes kyphosis
Causes are fatigue or muscular
weakness
Scoliosis
› Lateral curvature of
spine
Physiological scoliosis
May be related to leg
length discrepancy
Lacks normal flexibility
Asymmetric
movements
Pathological scoliosis
Serious orthopedic
pathology
Flat upper back
Decrease thoracic kyphosis
Depression of scapula and clavicles
Flat neck position
Loss of cervical lordosis
An exaggerated military posture
Caused by overemphasis on maintaining
As upright as possible
Forward head
Increase lower cervical
flexion and upper thoracic
regions
Increase extension of upper
cervical vertebra
Caused by occupational
working postures that
require forward leaning
Computers operators
Flat neck
Decrease cervical curve or lordosis with increase
flexion of occiput on the atlas
Also seen in exaggerated military posture.
Abnormal Postures
Causes of postural
problem
Genetic factors
Environment factors
Psychological factors
Physiological factors
Idiopathic factors
Examination and
measurements of posture
Traditionally, posture is measured by bony
anatomical landmarks.
Rating scales for subjective assessment of any
observed deviations from normal
Flexirule
Photography
inclinometer
Analysis of posture
Lateral view:
Front view:
Principles of Re-education
Measures taken by the physiotherapist to combat poor
posture and train better posture depends on
The root cause
Co-operation of the patient
Bad posture can be caused by:
Mental attitude
Poor hygienic conditions
Postural defects rarely lead to marked structural changes in
the body
Principles of Re-education
However if they are sustained for a long time it may lead to changes
in the joints, muscles and ligaments as they adapt to the habitual
positions
Muscles can lead to:
Adaptive shortening
Lengthening
Weakness
Principles of Re-education
These changes make it very difficult for patient to assume
good posture in the future
Relaxation and mobility exercises help to train good posture
A mental awareness of holding good posture and that good
posture will have benefits will enable the patient to change
Local conditions which result in an alteration in posture can
be removed
Patient can assume a new habit of posture which is better
and maintain it through voluntary effort
