What does posture mean to you? Does it bring back memories of sitting in the classroom and being told to sit up straight? Are you exhausted just thinking about it? Let’s keep it simple.
Posture is not just a structural concept of standing uncomfortably in one position; it’s actually about promoting better function. Posture is a direct result of function. Imagine the process behind designing and building a bridge for instance. Engineers must consider multiple factors such as loads and angles to ensure the bridge can withstand the forces of heavy traffic. If there were miscalculations or uneven angles, the bridge may initially function but would be weak and susceptible to collapse after prolonged forces. Posture is exactly the same, if we hold our bodies in an unnatural or poor posture, it is inevitable that we will eventually develop injuries and pain because we’re not utilising the full potential of the human body machine.

Our bodies rely on the combined use of muscles, ligaments, joints, bones and vessels working together to facilitate movement; these are of course powered by the nervous system and all play a role in controlling posture. That is, one does not operate without affecting the other. The act of lifting your arm or wiggling your toes is controlled by a whole process of elements working together to achieve the movement. If this process is somehow interrupted, the human body is extremely intelligent in finding an alternate way to ensure the movement still occurs by recruiting other surrounding structures to assist. Consequently, the primary muscle responsible will start to switch off, putting extra load on the surrounding joints and musculature. While this works in the short-term, it will promote weakness and create bad habits in the long term, thus increasing the likelihood of injury. Sound familiar? This is a common mechanism of a repetitive strain injury such as tennis elbow or shoulder impingement.
Maintaining good posture doesn’t have to be complex when you incorporate it into your daily lifestyle. Next time you lift your arm to hang out the washing or lift a heavy object, pay attention to which areas of your body are being used and how much control you have over the movement. Hint: Are you able to control the speed of the movement or do you need to rush it? If you are rushing the movement or favouring one side, it is already a sign of poor stability and muscular control. Instead of relying on your arms to perform the action, consider your spine and shoulder blades working as one machine to create a stronger, more sustainable movement.


This article was written by an experience Chiropractor at Bankstown Health Clinic. A team of experienced practitioners that have been helping individuals and families improve a variety of health conditions with a natural and holistic approach. Their main aim is to deliver allied health care to Bankstown that is effective, safe and looks at the bigger picture. For more information, you can visit the website at http://bankstownhealth.com.au. Other relevant contact details are as follows:

Address: First Floor, Suite 101 - 17, Kitchener Parade, Bankstown N.S.W - 2200
Phone: 02 9708 4338
Fax: 02 9708 4162
Email: [email protected]