Postural Analysis
Postural analysis entails observation of static posture for alignment and visual assessment of paired anatomic for symmetry. The patient stands still with feet shoulder-width apart, face forward and arms relaxed to the sides.
Posture alignment refers to how the head, shoulders, spine, hips, knees and ankles relate and line up with each other. Proper body alignment puts less stress on the spine and helps you have good posture. A postural analysis can determine if a person has any postural deviations, imbalances, muscle weaknesses or any other faults in their movement patterns which could be causing pain or discomfort.
Postural dysfunction or poor posture is when our spine is positioned in unnatural positions and this results in the joints, muscles and vertebrae being in constant stressful positions. These prolonged poor positioning results in a build up of pressure on these tissues.
The postural stress test (PST) is a simple, clinically applicable, quantitative measure of one’s ability to withstand a series of graded destabilising forces applied at the level of the subject’s waist. Postural analysis helps to identify the imbalances in your body that leads to your aches, pains and strains.
There are two types of postural habits. Dynamic posture is how you hold yourself when you are moving such as walking or bending over. Static posture is how you hold yourself when you are not moving such as sitting, standing or sleeping.
Maintaining daily good postures reduces the risk of back pain and possible damage to health. Poor posture hygiene can lead to functional and physical disorders that affect a person’s quality of life.
Postural therapy uses a patient’s own body weight to help improve the spine’s alignment and balance of the body. This technique uses our body’s eight load-bearing joints that are found in the shoulders, hips, knees and ankles.
How our Physiotherapists can help
Our physiotherapists treat patients throughout the entire healing process, from diagnosis to treatment for better posture and to prevent any further injury.
- Postural Analysis to assess the reasons behind various injuries or poor postures, such as repetitive loading of body leading to certain postural alterations, which can cause pain and injury.
- Physiotherapy exercises for hands on treatment and stretch therapy to help correct poor posture.
- Postural education for better posture habits and body stability.
Physiotherapy is a proven treatment to improve posture stability to control the body position in space for movement and balance.
