Proper Posture and Body Mechanics: Biomechanics Blog Post 5

The right way to sit and the right way to move; could it be life changing? 4 main reasons to adjust your posture and movement for improvement!

1. Maintaining natural curvatures of the spine. There are two lordotic curve and two kyphotic curves. Deformation of these curves can lead to a plethora of issues such as thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, flatback, swayback, or kyphosis-lordosis. 
2. Alignment of the body parts. The ideal position would have gravity centered over the base of support. This allows body systems to function properly.
3. To avoid disc compression. When the spine is overly flexed or extended it has the potential to result in a bulging, herniated, ruptured, or even fragmented disc. 
4. Prevent back pain. Back pain is a result of bad posture, lack of flexibility, improper body mechanics, or excessive stress in various aspects of life.

Using OT to intervene with issues of improper posture and poor body mechanics:

1. Demonstrate proper lifting techniques; using the rod to show the erect back, bending of the legs, and the weight being as close to your body as possible.
2. Go through various therapies in different sitting positions explaining the different positions and their importance. Examples being anterior sitting prior to standing to catch a ball or middle sitting to play cards.