EmailWhich posture type are you?
What are the different types of posture and the possible musculoskeletal issues?
Before knowing what are the different types of postures. We need to know what ideal alignment that many people envy about. If there is a plumb line dropping from head to toe, a straight line can be drawn down from the just below the ear (mastoid process), shoulder (acromion), lumbar 3th vertebral body, hip (greater trochanter) and lastly at the front of the bony ankle protrusion (anterior malleolus).
The three main types of bad postures are flat back, kyphosis/lordosis and sway back.
| Types of posture | Alignment | Tight/ overactive muscles | Inhibited/ weaken muscles | Possible musculoskeletal issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat back | Forward head posture ↓ Thoracic kyphosis (hunch forward) ↓ Lumbar lordosis (Reduce curve at the spine) Neutral to Posterior (pelvis rotating backward) Hips resting in increased extension Knees hyperextended |
|
| Pain or discomfort in prolong sitting, bending, driving Other common conditions include: Degenerated disc Herniated disc |
| Kyhosis/ Lordosis | Forward head posture ↑ Thoracic Kyphosis (increase C shape of upper back) ↑ Lumbar Lordosis ↑ Anterior pelvic tilt (forward rotation of pelvis) Slightly Hyperextended knee |
|
| Pain/ discomfort during prolong standing, walking, lying face down) |
| Sway back | Forward head posture ↑ Thoracic Kyphosis ↓ Lumbar Lordosis ↑ Hip extension Hyperextended knee Forward translation of the pelvis Neutral/ posterior pelvic tilt |
|
| Pain/ discomfort during Prolonged sitting , driving, bending, cycling Or during Prolonged standing, walking downhill, reaching overhead. |
What to do next?
After knowing what muscles are tight and inhibited, the next step is to carry out appropriate exercises to release the tight muscles and strengthen the inhibited muscles, sometimes it is also necessary to release the stiff joints to achieve better mobility of the joints. If all of the above, it would be easier to retrain the body into the ideal posture.
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This article was contributed by Core Concepts - Musculoskeletal Health Group.
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