Posture... It’s such a loaded word! If I had a dollar for the amount of times someone came in and said “I have bad posture” I wouldn’t be rich, but I would have a jar full of coins for the coffee run.
First of all… what is posture?
Defined as “the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting,” it has truly taken on a life of it’s own. The concept can be traced back to the 16th century, but really dominated the social and health scenes from the 18th century with the implementation of corsets, posture classes and it’s association with 'society'(insert posh voice).
Over time it became ingrained in our psyche that there was a 'right and wrong', or 'good and bad', when it came to one's posture. There is research that ‘how you hold yourself’ does impact how people perceive your personality or success. You can project confidence and success with a “proud chest” and an “upright stance."
It's whole different kettle of fish when it comes to pain and pathology
"When it comes to sitting and standing posture… think of it more like eye colour and personality traits." We are all different in how we sit stand and walk… it’s a product of our upbringing, innate anatomy, jobs and even mood. If we dive into the world of back pain, studies have shown that there is no evidence that slumping leads to back pain. In fact the more upright you and more aware of your sitting, the more likely you are to experience back pain!
A few handy tips when thinking about posture
“Your best posture is your next posture”
Just like your diet… everything in moderation and lots of variety. This doesn’t just mean mixing it up between sitting, standing and walking, but also how you are sitting. Spend some time:
⁃ Sitting leaning back
⁃ Sitting upright
⁃ Sitting on the edge of you chair.
Postural variety puts your muscles and joints in different positions, allowing the system to share the load.
“Motion is lotion”
Take breaks and move. This doesn’t have to be a 20 minute walk, it can be a 'micro-break' It can be as simple as:
⁃ Bend forward and touch your toes
⁃ Stand up, turn left and right, then sit back down
⁃ Lift knees to chest and hug them in
⁃ Bend backwards and reach for the skies
“Sit in a way that is comfortable for YOU”
Everyone is different, therefore each individual will find different positions that the find comfortable.
THERE IS NO PERFECT POSTURE!
Everyone has an opinion on how to sit, but listen to your own body. Go with what feels right.
Your nervous system is a finely tuned feedback system tailored to you, so trust it. Don’t force yourself into a position that might look great but feels uncomfortable.
Are you struggling with finding your sweet spot? Having issues with prolonged positioning at work? Book an appointment with one of the Enhance team. Being comfortable at work is really important. It's a huge part of you week, and being comfortable will improve mood and productivity.