Posture principles

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A good mechanical body balance, i.e. a good posture, can prevent mechanical problems, dysfunction and pain from structures that are mechanically stressed. The posture is the result of many processes that sustain equilibrium and of many relationships throughout the body.

The ideal posture is a body overall structure that indicates whether the person is in good mechanical balance. Variations from this ideal give the therapist clues as to areas of the body that do not permit the full mechanical ability for which they are designed. It is the restoration of the mechanical abilities that will then enable the person to have a "better" posture.

Posture is also used as a feedback mechanism for the person as it is well recognized that prolonged positioning in "poor" posture can lead to mechanical problems, dysfunction and pain from structures that are mechanically stressed by the sub-optimal arrangement. A person may be told to be conscious of returning frequently to an optimal posture, e.g.. "sit erect at the keyboard", to retrain themselves for doing tasks in a manner that places less mechanical stress on the body and lessens the chance of problems later.

The usual techniques to restore these abilities may include exercise, stretching, massage and other soft tissues techniques, modalities such as heat, ice and ultrasound, and re-education in movement patterns and positions during activities.