Posture and the spine
Human Posture, Pain, Health & Disease
In 1963, Martin Jungmann, MD[1] stated, “If we regard posture as the result of the dynamic interaction of two factors the environmental force of gravity on one hand, and the strength of the individual on the other, then posture is but the formal expression of the balance of power existing at any time between these two groups of forces. Thus, any deterioration of posture indicates that the individual is losing ground in his contest with the environmental force of gravity.”
Posture Decay
This picture depicts postural deterioration as we age.
“To live a long, active, energetic life, few things matter more than good posture.”
- The Rejuvenation Strategy by Cailliet and Gross
Abnormal posture is linked to the development and progression of many spinal conditions and injuries including: increased muscle activity and disc injury[2-6], scoliosis[7], work lifting injuries[8], driving and sitting aches and pains[9,10], sports injuries[11], back pain[12], neck pain[13], headaches[14,15], carpal tunnel syndrome[16], shoulder and ankle injuries[11,16] and many other conditions. Furthermore, postural faults in adolescent years have been established as one of the causes of pain syndromes and early arthritis in adulthood[17]. Therefore, posture should be checked and corrected in children before more serious problems can occur.
According to the American Journal of Pain Management[18], “Posture affects all human function, consciously and unconsciously from breathing to thinking.” Posture as a cause of health and disease is a paradigm shared by many. As Thomas A. Edison, once stated: