A symptom of modern habits and technologies, poor posture is everywhere you look. We spend long hours hunched over our computer monitors and steering wheels, lugging heavy purses and laptop bags. Sitting or standing in these unnatural positions can over time lead to misalignment of many of the body’s major muscle groups, often resulting in chronic pain or loss of function. It’s no wonder that back pain and neck pain are the two most common kinds of pain reported, according to a 2006 National Center for Health Statistics survey.
The Standing Postural Assessment
So how can you find out if your alignment is less than ideal? One tool commonly used by fitness and health professionals is the standing postural assessment. The purpose of this assessment is to observe a person standing at normal, relaxed posture from the front, side, and often rear view, and then determine how his or her alignment compares to a predetermined standard as indicated by a vertical “plumb line.” This is often done using sophisticated software; however, you can do it at home with a camera and a friend to photograph you.
Stand barefoot in front of a blank wall or door (ideally in close-fitting clothes), and have a friend take two full-length pictures of you: one facing forward and one in profile. Print your two pictures on computer paper, and then use a straight edge to draw a vertical line on each. On the profile picture, you’ll start that line at your ankle bone and go straight up from there; on the forward-facing picture you’ll draw straight down from the middle of your face.
The points of reference you’ll be observing on the profile photo are your earlobe, top of your shoulder, the dent on the side of your elbow, the side seam of your pants or shorts at the fullest part of your hips, the outside of your knee (just slightly closer to the front of your knee than the back), and your ankle bone. The ideal plumb line should connect vertically through all of these points when you’re facing sideways. If any of these points fall in front of or behind the line you’ve drawn from the ankle bone up, this is an indicator that your posture is misaligned.
From the front view, you want to make sure the center of your chin, the dent between your collarbones, your sternum, your belly button, and the rise of your pants all line up vertically. Also, you might draw two horizontal lines across the tops of your shoulders and hipbones to ensure that both are level.
What to Do if Your Posture is out of Line
If you discover that your posture is not as it should be, consult a fitness professional who specializes in correcting muscle imbalances. You may have to go through further postural analysis like the overhead squat assessment, where you’ll be asked to perform a squat while holding both arms straight overhead so that the trainer can look for imbalances in specific muscle groups. He or she may ask you about some of your habits: Do you work at a desk? Spend long hours in the car? Do you tend to carry a bag on one side only? Your trainer will likely recommend exercises to correct posture as well as address specific factors particular to your lifestyle. If your problem is severe, he or she may also recommend chiropractic or massage services, or have you consult a doctor.
Remember that fitness consultations are usually offered free of charge---contact your gym’s training staff to find out how to schedule one, and be sure to request a trainer who will provide a thorough postural analysis.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2006 With Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans. Hyattsville, MD: 72. (As reported by the American Pain Foundation at www.painfoundation.org)
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