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Bad Posture Effects on the Joints

When we were in grade school, most of us were taught that good posture was important. In some public schools, it was almost a yearly ritual to have a teacher balance a book on our heads in an effort to get us to sit or stand straighter. Those teachers were right: Good posture is important for maintaining long-term health on joints.

  1. Misconceptions

    • Posture isn't just standing up straight, according to the Sports Injury Bulletin. We have a posture for everything we do, from standing to running or cycling. Dr. Samuel A. Mielcarski, a physical therapist from Atlanta, says: "The goal of good posture is to maintain a state of musculoskeletal balance that protects the supporting structures of the body against injury or progressive deformity." In other words, good posture protects our skeleton and joints, and bad posture causes injuries.

    Gravity

    • As we move through our day, we constantly fight gravity. Gravity keeps us from floating off the Earth, but at the same time it pulls us down and puts stress on our joints. Posture dictates whether gravity will flow smoothly through us or cause stress on our joints.

    Slouching

    • According to Chicago-based chiropractic physician Dr. Richard Arrandt, when we slouch, we pull our entire spine out of alignment. This puts pressure on the rib cage and the organs inside it. Additionally, slouching causes the head and neck to fall forward, which can lead to problems with temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder. TMJ commonly results in jaw pain and headaches.

    Sway Back

    • Sway back is caused by an improper alignment of the pelvis. This can lead to weakening of abdominal muscles, stiffening the joints in the middle spine. If posture isn't corrected, as time goes on the spinal joints will degenerate.

    Foot Positioning

    • According to Heal Yourself magazine, improper foot placement can lead to chronic joint pain. The feet are the foundation on which you stand and walk. If you twist your feet or stand incorrectly, it can cause chronic joint pain. Proper foot placement can correct stresses on the joints and bring immediate relief to some forms of chronic pain.

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