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Why Posture May Be Compromised?

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There may be several reasons why posture may not be optimal. They include genetics (specific physique, length of bones, etc.), age (developmental changes in the muscular and skeletal systems happening with age), previous injuries and compensation mechanisms related to them, environmental factors (culture of work-related repetitive moves, also known as pattern overload), emotional state, as well as a simple lack of awareness around own body moves. Holistic medicine doctors even include emotional factors that contribute to posture distortion, like prolonged feelings of sadness. 

 

As a fitness professional, regardless of the reason behind the compromised posture, my focus is on muscles and the kinetic chain, as well as my client's awareness of those. If certain muscles work too much during job or fitness training without proper stretch, they become too short and pull. On the opposite side, if muscles are not used, they become weak and too long. This disbalance between the muscles where one side becomes short and the other long, also known as muscle imbalance, is the scope of my work and the area of correction. 

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Posture Correction

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Regardless of whether posture correction is indicated as a concern by my client or not, some improvement happens during training. This is due to proper cueing to assume a starting position before each exercise (static posture), cueing on how to move correctly during an exercise to ensure proper weight distribution, and adapting excercises as needed when excessive crunching or core instability is observed. Moreover, because I focus on well-rounded physical development,  the imbalances that cause a poor posture get addressed to a certain degree and some postural improvements are being achieved over several months of training, especially with a due awareness of the client.

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With more specific posture improvement requests, my corrective program includes:

• Targeted exercises to strengthen/activate specific muscle groups responsible for the optimal posture using resistance training, Progressive Ballet Technique, and therapeutic postural exercises. 

• Targeted stretching excercises to improve flexibility in the muscles that are too short and tense. 

• Educating on the proper alignment of the entire kinetic chain (head, shoulders, pelvis, knees and feet) statically and dynamically.

• Educating and building muscle memory around functional movements with proper posture (sitting, weight lifting, walking up the stairs, etc.)

• Body awareness techniques to notice and release tension in the body. 

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