6 myths of Posture and good Health

Six myths about good posture and your health

Marjie Gilliam

Never too late ... good posture can be acquired at any stage of life.

When most people think of good posture, they think of shoulders pulled back, head held high, chin up and back flat.

In reality, good posture is more about trying to keep the natural curves of the back in balance when standing, sitting or lying. When these curves are in their resting or neutral state, they experience the least strain.

Good posture improves circulation and breathing, boosts the nervous system, enhances exercise performance, reduces the risk of injury and accelerates healing from injury.

The spinal column has many functions, including supporting and protecting the spinal cord and nerve roots. It consists of small bones, the vertebrae, stacked one on top of the other like blocks, and discs that act as shock absorbers and allow the spine to move.

The cervical (neck) area of the spine supports your head; the thoracic (mid-back) area provides stability and support to the upper back, and the lumbar area relates to the lower back. Below the lumbar area is the sacrum, which connects the spine to the lower half of the body. At the bottom of the spine is the coccyx or tailbone.

When the vertebrae are misaligned, the spine's natural curves are out of place, creating stress and strain on muscles, joints and ligaments, which affects posture.

Many myths and misconceptions exist about how to establish good posture. In her book 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back, Esther Gokhale uses historical and scientific evidence to sort fact from fiction.

MYTH 1 If you want to correct poor posture, straighten up. Forcing a straight body position does nothing to address the reason for poor posture and can cause muscle tension and distortion of the spine. In time, the discomfort and fatigue cause many to slouch again.

MYTH 2 Keeping your chin up and chest out constitutes great posture. Pushing the chest out and tilting the head back creates muscle tension and exaggerates the cervical and lumbar curves, potentially hindering circulation to these areas and pinching nerve roots.

MYTH 3 Good posture requires mental and physical effort. The body strives to heal itself and when posture is good you look and feel better. As new movement patterns are established, they become a habit, increasingly instinctive and natural.

MYTH 4 It is too late to change my posture. It is never too late to improve your posture. The body is resilient and was designed to move, so it adapts well to most activities. Studies reveal that even people in their 80s and 90s can improve their posture, giving them more mobility, independence, health and quality of life.

If you are unaccustomed to being active, work towards conditioning the body gradually. Although muscular strength is vital for support and stability of the spinal column, relaxation is also important. When muscles are overworked, the risk of injury increases, so allow time for rest and recovery.

MYTH 5 You should always breathe through the belly. ''Breathing through the belly has been regarded by some experts as the only way we should breathe,'' Gokhale says. ''In fact, different kinds of breathing are needed for different kinds of movement. Belly breathing is appropriate when you have an elevated need for oxygen (as when you are running) or breath control (as when you are playing the saxophone).

''Otherwise, when at rest, inhalations should primarily expand the chest cavity and lengthen the back, only slightly moving the belly. Movement of the chest and back helps in maintaining normal rib cage size and shape, and fosters healthy circulation.''

MYTH 6 Good posture derives from being fit and active. Gokhale says: ''This would be like driving around with a crooked axle, hoping that the driving alone will straighten it out.'' If a person has poor posture, underlying issues must be addressed. Increasing activity does not guarantee a solution and can cause injuries instead of improvement. It is far better to focus on good posture in its own right, or alongside increased activity. Once you have good posture, you will get much more out of your activity.

Marjie Gilliam is an international sports sciences master, certified personal trainer and fitness consultant.

Dayton Daily News



Source: The Sydney Morning Herald