“I know my posture is terrible?”
“It’s okay to slouch?”
“Everyone told me to sit up straight.”
I often hear these things from my patients. We have been trained that sitting up straight is the “best” way to sit. We spend thousands of dollars to make the “perfect set-up” in our office, car, and home. However, we shouldn’t have to rely on objects to help support our back. Let’s learn to depend on our body. The key to this issue is that there is no perfect posture. The key to comfort isn’t to find the perfect way to be rigid for 8 hours.
We are meant to move
Modern society has led us to be more stationary. The human body was meant to move, to be agile, and to be flexible. The body was meant to move through different positions.
There is no perfect way to sit, no perfect way to stand… at least not for 8 hours. Another common request is to ask for standing desks. Standing for 8 hours on end instead of sitting for 8 hours is not the answer. It will lead to new problems.
Everyone is different
What’s comfortable for one person can be very uncomfortable for another. Every person is unique, so we don’t have to force everyone to fit into a “one size fits all” posture. I understand that everybody has to work, and you may have no choice but to sit or stand for hours on end. Instead of relying on the “perfect set-up” to support you, I recommend the following:
Take opportunities to vary your position when you can, even if just briefly
Train to improve your strength and flexibility so your body can naturally support you
When something tough and uncomfortable is inevitable, use your brace and support
Follow our instagram for simple exercise and tips that can help you throughout your day!
How PT Helps
When you do have neck or low back pain, a physical therapist can evaluate you to figure out which positions are comfortable and which can be uncomfortable. We can help you understand how to modify what you are doing at home until you get stronger and more flexible.
Some patients just need one visit to look over how they are doing things and to learn simple movements to improve what’s limiting their body from staying upright. For others, guidance on how to regain overall spinal motion helps them improve their posture over time.
My favorite tip
When working from home, try sitting on a big Swiss ball instead of a standard chair (if you have enough balance). This is an easy way to get some more mobility in the lower area of your back and pelvis. Find a ball where you can sit so that your knees are either in line with your hips or lower. Other suggestions like these can be made by your physical therapist after your evaluation so they can best fit your needs.
So don’t blame your “posture”, but instead move! Get up, sit down, lie down, walk around, and dance like nobody is watching!