The Connection Between Posture and Pain

As practitioners we come across pain on a daily basis. A lot of pain that is presented in clinic can be related to poor postural habits, which is why good posture is so important for many reasons.

What is pain?

Pain can be experienced very differently from person to person, which can be influenced through biological, psychological and social elements.

‘An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage’ The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)   (2020)

What is posture?

Posture is your body’s ability to hold itself in a certain position. The ‘correct’ posture is the ability to hold your body in a well aligned position, using the surrounding soft tissues to support your skeletal system correctly. 

The Spine is an S-shape, allowing for an even distribution of weight and centre of gravity. As soon as the weight distribution changes (whether that’s due to pregnancy, poor posture at the work- station or poor lifting techniques etc.) the musculoskeletal system has to adapt and alter how it works. This usually results in certain soft tissues over or under-working, which ultimately creates an imbalance and puts more pressure on the skeletal system/your spine. 

Modern day living has caused us to use our spines in the incorrect position. The human spine has not evolved for it to then be sitting for extended periods of time, for example, desk work, or for the neck to be in a repetitive flexed forward position, for example, looking at laptop/phone. Your body has an amazing ability to adapt to slight changes in posture without you noticing, but when this incorrect position is prolonged, the adaptation can result in pain.

Poor posture can not only impact on your musculoskeletal system but also affect your balance and internal organs. It can result in a reduced space for your lungs to expand and an inefficiency in your cardiovascular system. It can also negatively influence your digestive and nervous systems, as well as a reduction in cognitive health.

How to prevent poor posture

Ultimately the way to prevent poor posture is to avoid certain positions that cause it in the
first place, including work set up, sleeping position and avoiding overloading the joints
unevenly. Furthermore, working on spinal strength and core stability through certain
exercises will aid in the prevention of pain returning.

Chiropractic and Osteopathy care can help check alignment and aid in injury avoidance through specific posture screening techniques and treatment.

Do you want to know how your posture is and what are the techniques and treatment that best suit you? Book an appointment with one of our Chiropractic or Osteopathy practitioners here, they would love to help you.