POSTURE - a peek at my notes

Posture is the position of the body either at rest or in motion. It constantly changes due to the many varied factirs like emotions, food consumed, fatigue and energy levels, over use or lack of use, muscle imbalance, and poot habits. Good vertical posture allows the body to dissipate the load of gravity so as to improve movement efficincy, reduce injury risk and conserve energy.

Good posture places all the muscles, tendons, lugaments, nerves and blood vessels in the optimal place for them to work most efficiently. Good posture provides minimal resistance to movement, maximal energy efficiency, reduced injruy risk and greatest conservation of energy during movement and at rest.

Poor posture leads to pain, disconfort, muscle strain, tightness and general fatigue. The further away from optimum the postural alignment is, the greater the load placed upon the body structures leading to greater and greater problems.

Long-term poor posture will affect the health and well being of the individual as it compromises function of body tissues and organs. Poor posture leads to some muscles being stretched too long, these often become weak, tired, can be painful and fatigued, where as the opposing muscles become short, tight, reduced in length and often show no pain unless palpated.

Lifting heavy objects :

• Wrong posture includes feet apart & squatting - this switches off the pelvic floor muscles as we mechanically pull the pubic symphysis apart (like splitting a wishbone). This places the pelvis and spine at risk. This is the pee/poo pose - unsuitable for weight lifting.

• Correct posture involves a staggered stance (1 foot behind till toes of rear foot is roughly at level with heel of front foot) with knees bent, feet about 2 hands apart. The knees are kept close together over the feet. The object is grasped as close as possible to the body and lifting is done through the hips using the legs, with the pelvic floor muscles activated (tightened).