What can affect postural health?

Occupation, genetics and hereditary factors, environment, clothing and footwear, emotions and mood, age, disability, injuries and medical conditions, inactivity.

Balance between flexibility and stability

If a joint's range is too excessive additional stress is placed on neighbouring issues. If insufficient flexibility within a joint restricts movement can lead to compensatory movements from other body segments to complete intended action. Equilibrium between flexibility and stability must therefore be achieved to ensure postural health.

What is Postural assessment?

Must assess individuals whether 1:1 or a group setting to see their posture and adjust program accordingly. Postural assessment tool is provided in textbook.

Gravity and posture

LOG = line of gravity Centre of gravity is where the body's mass is most concentrated -> in an upright position this is the pelvic region (unless someone is obese for example).

Lordosis Corrective Programme

Abdominal strengthening exercises, with an emphasis on the rectus abdomens and external obliques ability to posteriorly tilt the pelvis. Strength of the hamstrings should be developed if weak or relaxed if tense. Massage treatment and/or affective programme of stretching and posture awareness is used to correct this posture.

Kyphosis Corrective Programme

Exercise should focus on strengthening (if needed) neck flexors, external obliques, rhomboids, mid and lower-trapezius, the upper fibres of the erector spine and the posterior deltoids. Should also focus on stretching neck extensors, hip flexors, lower fibres of the erector spine and pectorals/anterior deltoids. Spinal mobility and postural awareness if also key.

Flat Back Corrective Programme

Focus on lengthening hamstrings and lower fibres of the rectus abdomens, the obliques, and tibialis anterior. Strengthening should focus on lumbar back extensors, hip flexors and gastrocnemius. Spinal mobility and postural awareness if also key.

Swayback Corrective Programme

Increase strength of hip flexors, external obliques, upper back and rectus abdominis. Increase flexibility in internal obliques, pectorals, and hamstrings. Spinal mobility and postural awareness if also key.

Scoliosis Corrective Programme

Should be referred to an orthopaedic medical professional who specialises in such conditions. Due to the complexity of the disorder, not within my scope to deal with this problem.

Dynamic posture definition

Dynamic postures is when movement is present - realistically it's a series of postures linked together. There is no optimal dynamic posture as everyone will have their own optimum dynamic posture to some extent.

The Neutral Spine

Optimum spinal position that seeks to maintain all four natural curves within the spinal column to prevent joint and ligament damage in the vertebral column, increase biomechanical efficiency, enable transmission of forces through the pelvis. Can be achieved by lying on back with feet on mat, posteriorly and anteriorly tilting the pelvis to find the midpoint.

The imprinted spine

Created by slightly posteriorly tilting the pelvis so that the lumber arch is flattened (although the entire lumbar spine should not be in contact with the mat)

When to use the imprinted spine?

Used for clients with elongated and/or weak abdominals which is common for people with kyphosis. -> Reduced space between pelvis and ribs to help engage abdominals for stability and due to the sacrum being flattened on the mat, provides greater pelvic stability than the neutral spine.

When not to use the imprinted spine?

It is still a flexed spine thought there is no obvious bending => clients with low back pain conditions (especially flexion-type triggered) should work harder to remain in neutral as imprinted spine can cause more pain due to the stress placed on your discs.

Neutral vs imprint

Neutral should always be used in exercises with one or both feet remaining on the ground where the kinetic chain is closed. When chain is opened and both feet are off the ground, greater degree of pelvic stability is required so the spinal alignment should be imprint (except those with lower back pain). If core stabiliser are strong enough to maintain neutral spine in open kinetic chain, this position can be adopted for both open and closed chain activities.