What is Posture?
Posture is not just about sitting or standing up straight, it is how our muscles, joints and nervous system work together to support movement.
A healthy posture is the ability to adapt, move efficiently and tolerate the demands we place on our bodies.
There is no single “perfect” posture - that is why we are called Posture Positive not Posture Perfect!
Do I need to improve my posture?
People may aim to improve their posture for various reasons, such as:
- Improving how their body moves & functions
- Tackling persistent pain or discomfort
- Optimising long term joint, muscle, and overall body health
- Improving aesthetics or how they feel in their body
- Improving ability to exercise freely, efficiently or reduce risk of injury
We are here to help you achieve your goals whatever they are- you don't need a specific pain or injury
How do I know if my pain/problem is related to posture?
Posture is the way our body moves and functions, therefore it is almost always relevant to most types of pain affecting our muscles and joints. Your Osteopath will assess what is relevant and explain how it is impacting your body, we will advise where you are currently going strong, and which areas need improvement and how to obtain it.
For example, you may have excellent spinal posture, but also have very rounded shoulders. Although you might have no complaints in the shoulder itself, this might be contributing to the pain in your elbow and wrist when at work.
Why do we specialise in posture?
Your Osteopath underwent major surgery as a teenager and had most of her spine fused from just below the base of the neck, to just above the pelvis.
On one hand, this made it easier to "stand up straight" through the majority of the spine (as there was really no alternative!).
This also led to the development of a post-fusion complication known as Proximal Junctional Kyphosis (PJK) - where the spinal segments above the immobilised section of the spine gravitate forwards at a sharp angle, leading to chronic neck and shoulder problems as well as even more wear through the mobile areas of spine.
After being told by consultants that she would never be able to change her posture due to the surgery, she reversed the condition through strengthening specific muscles and movement patterns.
How do we change posture?
Muscles move bones, joints permit that movement. Our nervous system initiates and controls it.
Therefore we adapt our posture via:
- Our ability to use our muscles effectively
- Having freedom of motion available in our joints
- Our ability to control our movement optimally
- Awareness of how we are moving or what position we are in
How do you assess and treat posture?
Your Osteopath will conduct a comprehensive examination of your posture, by assessing the above as relevant to your particular problem or concern.
We will explain all findings to you to help you understand your body and what needs addressing. You can expect to receive a tailored combination of hands-on treatment and specific exercises to achieve your desired outcome.