Site Search

What is good posture, why posture is important or why you should have listened to your Mom

By Denis Kanygin

Your Mom always told you to sit up straight or you'll have bad posture. You Mom was right! Posture is important! Why, you ask? The answer is simple - Gravity.

Force of gravity is acting upon our bodies 24 hours, 7 days a week. The easiest way for our bodies to deal with this force is to be perpendicular to it. In other words we want all joints to be 'stacked up' one on top of the other.

If you look from the side view (Frontal plane) your ankles, knees, hips, shoulders and ear should all be in one line. When such alignment is accomplished the effect of the force of Gravity is minimal. There is no muscle tension, you simply 'stick' to the ground.

If you look from front or back view, ankles, knees and hip joints should all be stacked one on top of the other. It also important that knees, hips and shoulder are on the same level. In other words, if we draw a horizontal line through your left and right knees, both knees should be on this line.

If such alignment is achieved and maintained, the chance of having muscle and joint pains and aches is almost zero! Good posture plays a vital role in how we feel and function.

If any deviations from the above mentioned alignment exist, force of Gravity no longer flows smoothly and gently through that body. It becomes destructive.

When the Force of Gravity flows through the body with various postural dysfunctions (ex. excessive lower back curve, rolled shoulders, elevated hips, torso rotation, bent knees) it gets 'stuck' on such deviations.

Excessive lower back curve is a great example. As the Force of Gravity flows through the body and encounters excessive lower back curve (lordosis) it gets 'stuck' on it. Lower back starts absorbing the Force of Gravity, muscles get overloaded and you end up with a back ache.

Another example would be flexed knees. Force Gravity runs through the body and if your knees are in constant flexion, it gets 'stuck' on them. In the end knees get overwhelmed by the constant stress and start aching.

So your Mother was right! Posture is important. As a matter of fact having proper postural alignment is the most critical component that will guarantee pain free and healthy life.

To learn what to do about improper posture and how to eliminate dysfunctions from your body look for my other articles or visit my website www.workoutiq.com

About the Author:

Denis Kanygin is a Postural Therapis and Personal Trainer located in Mountain View, CA. Denis will help you be pain free and in the best shape of your life. His website is http://www.workoutiq.com