I do not outright tell anyone that they need to fix their posture. It’s good general advice, but not always true. And even if it IS good, is it really WORTH the effort? It is very difficult to form a habit of good posture, no one will go through the battle without an indication of significant gain. If you’re wondering the theory behind why sitting upright is better for your spine check out The Disc Model of Neck, Back, and Referred Pain here.
Truthfully, sitting in an upright posture is advice often given by physical therapists, chiropractors, and parents, but with little to no follow through. Most people do not know if it benefits them enough to put in the effort, so they don’t. I follow these steps in each of my evaluations to find out if the client notices a difference and how much. Bottom line, if their symptoms are worse with bad posture, it needs to stop if they want to heal.
There is no point to setting a broken bone if it is not then casted long enough to heal. And there is no point in doing exercises or manual therapy to improve the position of your spine if you proceed to sit in poor posture 8 hours/day.
That being said, if someone does not improve their symptoms OR they get worse with upright posture, then they should proudly sit slouched; knowing it’s actually better for them. Do not guess! Learn the rules of good vs bad change, follow the steps in the video, and find out for yourself if good posture is worth the effort.
Post your results or questions below!
Dr. Charles Baldi
Ortho and spine specialist
Doctor of physical therapy
Baldi Movement Group LLC
www.baldimovementgroup.com
ContactUs@baldimovementgroup.com
(610) 484-4487