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What is a good posture and does my posture cause back pain?

What is a bad posture and can it cause back pain? For a very long time we have been told to fix our postures and that slouching, sticking our head forward (text neck) and tilting our pelvis could be the... Read more

By Jennifer Barr

What is a bad posture and can it cause back pain?

For a very long time we have been told to fix our postures and that slouching, sticking our head forward (text neck) and tilting our pelvis could be the cause of our back pain. However, research actually shows that this is not the case!

The following common postural “issues”, have now been shown to not cause neck or back pain:

• Text neck (forward head posture)
• Kyphosis (outward curve of the spine/ hunch back)
• Lordosis (inward curve of the spine)
• Scoliosis (sideways curve of the spine)
• Anterior and posterior pelvic tilt (forward or backwards rotation of the pelvis)
• Uneven pelvis

It turns out that there is no one posture that is “good” and there is not a list of “bad” postures. The actual issue we commonly face is holding a position for too long. Therefore, the key is variability; frequently changing our position and getting up to be more active.

For example, if you clenched your fist for one hour, your hand would get very sore and stiff. This is the same for you neck, back or any body part that you hold in one position.

What can I do to prevent my back pain?

Change up your position or get up to move about. We know it is really hard to do so, particularly at work when you have lots to be getting on with. Try setting yourself an alarm to remind you to move or go for a quick walk around the desk.

Give it a go and see what you notice!

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