So, what is the deal with back posture? There has been a lot
of debate on whether a person’s back posture is a precursor to injury. Now, to
clarify, I am not talking about conditions such as scoliosis, which requires
specialist treatment. I am speaking about people’s sitting, standing and normal
body position.
Some therapists like to blame posture on all problems. I am
not one of these. I look at the facts, which includes taking the history of the
problem, prior medical issues and a thorough biomechanical assessment.
My view on posture is that if it is the causation of pain,
then let’s sort it out. If it’s not the problem, then leave it.
First off, everyone has a specific posture. If they have sat
at a desk, stood at a machine or had basically the same position for the last
ten years without any injury, then the likelihood is that their posture is not
an issue. If the pain they are feeling is recent, then realistically what needs
to be discussed is what recent changes the person has made to their routine.
I have clients who have tight hamstrings or tight shoulders
and they ask me if I think it’s their posture. If they’ve never had a problem
with their posture before and suddenly it becomes an issue then we look at
these recent changes to their workload, stress levels and fitness regime. Maybe
they’ve taken on a new workout program, have a higher stress level or changes
to their running style. For instance, if they’ve changed from a heel to
forefoot running style this can change the body position and combined with postural
problems, then we may need to think about trying to adjust it. However, that is
not always the case and therefore a thorough assessment is performed during an examination.
Where posture can cause problems is when a person has
rounded shoulders. This position is not the optimal position for the humerus to
sit in the glenoid cavity, which can cause stress on the rotator cuff muscles.
Rounded shoulders are often caused by tight anterior muscles such as the
pectorals and weak posterior muscles such as the mid/low traps and rhomboids.
Clients who attend with shoulder pain and have rounded shoulders will get
exercises to address the postural needs.
In summary, just because a person has a not ideal posture
does not mean they will have pain or muscular problems. If a therapist is quick
to blame posture before performing muscle and joint testing then it’s good
advice to get a second opinion before assuming it’s just postural.
If you have any questions about posture or other sports
injuries please do not hesitate to contact me at sara@prestigesportinjury.co.uk
