Redefining Posture: The Interconnectedness of Body and Movement
Posture is commonly understood as the way we hold our bodies while standing, sitting, or lying down. However, this definition often overlooks the dynamic nature of our bodies and how habitual positions and movements influence the shape our bodies take/hold. We're more like clay and gravity is our molder. In this article, I aim to redefine posture, emphasizing it's complexities and how repetitive positions can and will perpetuate imbalances. With a little bit of mindfulness we can intentionally counter our "postures."
The Dynamic Nature of Posture
Traditionally, posture is seen as a static concept—a snapshot of how we hold ourselves at a given moment. Yet, our bodies are designed for movement, not stillness. Every movement we make, every position we hold, even if momentarily, contributes to the shape our bodies make. By viewing posture as a dynamic interplay rather than a static position, we begin to appreciate how fluid and responsive our bodies truly are.
It’s All Connected
You’ve heard this before, but do you really believe it? Western medicine has segmented health into categories, programming us to see ourselves in pieces. We have hand specialists, vestibular therapy, mental health, gut health, and heart health. While these are individual parts of our bodies, they all work together like the intricate mechanisms of a clock. Each piece is necessary to make the entire unit function.
Too often, I’ve seen cases where surgeries like carpal tunnel operations or spinal fusions are performed to address peripheral pain in the hands, arms, or legs. These surgeries can do a disservice to those experiencing pain. When did the pain start? What were you doing? Identifying the position your body was in when the pain began is crucial. Typically, peripheral pain results from persistently repeated movements or prolonged/repeated postures, which can be alleviated with decompressive counter movements, which is what stretching is.
The Role of Movement Variety
People often use the phrase “bad posture” to take ownership of their pain, which is a helpful start to motivating change and encouraging new movements and behaviors. However, I don’t believe there is such a thing as “bad posture.” You can put your body in any position you want; you just need to be mindful of it and counteract it with opposing movements. Without counter movements, your posture will inherently hold that position, making movement in the other direction more difficult and likely uncomfortable.
Therefore, I propose the term “mindful positioning” instead of posture. Posture suggests a static state, whereas mindful positioning is a more empowered and fluid way of thinking about how we carry ourselves daily. Think of your body as a team of players, all working toward the same goal. Our bodies are not exempt from Newton’s first law of inertia, which suggests that the body will use momentum to create the desired movement, especially if it is already headed in that direction. Which is why you see older humans folded forward looking at the ground and then reporting low back pain. Gravity is winning. Simply laying those folks on the ground and teaching them to breath into their chest would create space for that thoracic spine to extend. So, a noteworthy rules is :Repeated movement patterns teach the brain to recruit the same muscles to be recruited more frequently, kind of like relying on your heavy hitters in baseball instead of using the strength of the entire team. By only using your heavy hitters you perpetuate hypertrophy and create asymmetry.
Interconnected Systems
Our musculoskeletal system is highly interconnected. A change or imbalance in one area WILL trigger a chain reaction throughout the entire body. For example, a forward head posture can lead to neck strain, which might then affect shoulder alignment, altering the curvature of the spine and impacting the lower back. Understanding this interconnectedness is crucial in redefining posture as a holistic concept rather than focusing on individual parts in isolation.
Conclusion
Redefining posture requires a shift from viewing it as a static snapshot to understanding it as a dynamic and interconnected system. Recognizing the impact of habitual positions and the importance of movement in variety outside of our usual ones is the only way we can even attempt balance and prevent the development of chronic pain. By embracing this holistic perspective, we can foster better postural awareness and hopefully prevent chronic injury. Our bodies need all it's players to work together, equally distributing responsibilities, rather than relying on the favorites. Through mindful positioning, we can achieve balanced, flexible, and resilient bodies.
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