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The Posture Correction Expert
Correcting poor posture

Posture is simply the position of the body in space. Correct posture involves the positioning of the joints to provide minimum stress on the joints of the body. On the other hand, faulty posture increases stress on the joints. This can lead to accelerated joint degeneration, deformity, pain, loss of function and reduced health.

Posture also involves the kinetic chain-link concept of body mechanics in which problems anywhere along the body chain can lead to problems above or below that point. For example, a painful ankle can create knee problems. A restricted shoulder can create a neck problem.

The effects of posture can be far reaching, involving respiratory, digestive, and circulatory systems as well as the musculoskeletal system. Posture also reflects the way you feel about yourself. When your head is forward and down, you present yourself as an unhappy person. But when you maintain an upright posture, you look attractive and show assertiveness. We do not inherit good posture, it is adopted by us through understanding and practice. But how is poor or faulty posture developed?

Causes of Poor Posture

  • Poor postural habit: incorrect sleeping, sitting, standing, reading
  • Psychological factors- especially self-esteem
  • Normal developmental and degenerative processes
  • Pain leading to muscle guarding and avoidance postures
  • Muscle imbalance, spasm and contracted muscles
  • Respiratory conditions
  • General weakness
  • Excess weight
  • Loss of proprioception--the ability to perceive the position of your body

Effects of Poor posture

  • Low back pain: It is one of the most common consequences of bad posture. More than 80 per cent of neck and back problems are the result of tight, achy muscles brought on by years of bad posture. With time, there may be such changes in your muscles and ligaments that you have a chronically stiff, tight, painful feeling.
  • Limited range of motion: The muscles can get permanently shortened or stretched when a slumped-over position becomes your normal position. Muscles and ligaments that have been shortened or stretched no longer function as they should.
  • Increased discomfort and pain: Poor posture can often cause headaches and pain in the shoulders, arms, hands and around the eyes resulting from a forward-head position. Rounded shoulders can trigger headache at the base of your skull where the shoulder muscles join.
  • Creates pain in the jaw: A forward-head position can lead to jaw pain. This kind of pain (known as TMJ, temporomandibular joint disease) was once considered only a dental problem. Today we know that TMJ pain may also be caused or aggravated by faulty posture.
  • Decreased lung capacity: Reducing the amount of oxygen in your body can decrease the space in your chest cavity, restricting efficient functioning of your lungs. The decreased intake of air into the lungs also requires the heart to work harder to pump the blood, which in turn creates congestion and back pressure of circulation in the pelvis and legs.
  • Affects proper bowel function: Even this important bodily task may be affected by faulty posture. If your spine arches and sways forward, your intestines may sag and cause constipation.
  • Accelerated degenerative changes: The likelihood of ?wear and tear? arthritis or what is termed degenerative osteoarthritis, in later years when poor posture is combined with limited mobility.
  • Makes you look older than you are: When you are slumped over or hunched over, not standing straight, you can add years to your appearance. For women, the more rounded the shoulders, the more breasts may sag. Any woman, no matter what her age, can help reduce the sag by nearly 50 per cent by simply standing tall. Poor posture sends a message of depression, low energy and low self esteem.
  • Causes you to feel chronically tired: Poor breathing and circulation, sluggish digestion, muscles constantly fighting gravity ? is it any wonder that you feel fatigued all the time? Your muscles are working so hard just to hold you up that you waste energy simply standing, sitting and moving. Where?s the energy you need to feel good?

Correction of faulty posture - Super Six Posture Protocol

First we must recognize ideal posture. The doctor must be trained to palpate and recognize gross body asymmetries, such as pelvic tilts, short legs, sacroiliac dysfunctions, scoliosis, facet restrictions, trigger points, scar tissue, restricted joints and hip-capsule adhesions. Visual assessment of muscle-imbalance patterns that cause neck and low-back pain is also essential. Combining these hands-on and visual assessment techniques allows the doctor to immediately tell which muscles are tight and pulling unevenly on the body's bony framework, and which weak muscles are permitting the asymmetry. Muscle-imbalances cause predictable faulty postural patterns, such as slumped shoulders, forward heads, swaybacks, kyphotic spines and dowager's hump.

Ultimately, for long-lasting relief of chronic neck/back pain, the doctor must work to achieve these posture correction goals:

  • Balancing the head on the neck
  • Balancing the neck on the shoulders
  • Balancing the shoulder girdle on the rib cage
  • Balancing the pelvis on the femurs
  • Restoring pain-free movement
  • What is the Super Six Protocol?

Our system incorporates a five part therapeutic approach

  • Six carefully selected and unique corrective postural exercises based on proprioception and muscle memory
  • Life style modification-education, motivation
  • Advanced myofascial release techniques performed by the doctor
  • Facilitated stretching
  • Chiropractic joint manipulation and Laser therapy to restore mobility and reduce fibrosis in restricted joints

Benefits of the Super Six Protocol

  • The Super Six Protocol enables the patient to take an active role in regaining and improving their health.
  • Sets clear treatment goals for both the doctor and patient.
  • Success can be demonstrated following each treatment that motivates both doctor and patient.
  • The doctor has an objective method of measuring outcome assessment every step of the way.
  • Predictable results are easily achieved.
  • Higher patient compliance.
  • Improved posture!

Download Super 6 Posture Exercises

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Assess Your Posture

Here is a simple way you can assess your own posture to get an indication of any problem areas you may currently have. Stand facing a full length mirror. Close your eyes, shake out your limbs and body, relax, and stand as you normally would. Ideally, have a friend or family member with you to help. Then open your eyes.

What do you see?

Perfect head position

1. Head alignment

Check the positioning of your head ? is it stacked directly over your body (as it should be) and that your chin is parallel to the floor?

Are your cheekbones and collarbone in line?

Perfect shoulders position

2. Shoulders

Are your shoulders level as they should be (make sure one isn?t higher than the other)? Have a friend standing at your side to ensure that your shoulders are in line with your ears.

Perfect elbows position

3. Elbows

Stand with your arms by your side ? is there equal space between your elbow and waist on both sides of your body?

Perfect hips position

4. Hips

When you put your hands on your hips, are both hands positioned at the same height? Do both legs of your trousers finish at the same position at the ankle?

Perfect knuckles position

5. Knuckles

Your hands should be at your side in line with your hips so your knuckles are facing to the sides with the thumbs pointing forward? When standing naturally, are your thumbs pointing forward equally?

Perfect back position

6. Back

Your back shouldn?t be as straight and stiff as a board. In fact, your back has a natural S curve to it. Have a friend view you from the side ? is your lower back curved forward just a little bit?

Perfect foot position

7. Feet

Your toes should be marginally pointed outwards; they should not be turned in nor should they be turned out too far. Is one foot turned more than the other?

If you answered "NO" to any of the questions above in the Self-Assessment, it's important to have a professional assessment of your posture.

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