Postural Issues

Many postural complaints can be categorized into one of two camps. Strength problems or mobility problems.

1. Strength Problems

2. Mobility Problems

Strength problems tend to develop gradually over time, you may not even notice them occurring. Sometimes we lose strength in a muscle because it is chronically inhibited or ‘turned off’. Most commonly this inhibition is because an antagonist (opposite acting) muscle is always switched on.

To understand this relationship: Contract your biceps muscle and bend your elbow. You will notice that your triceps "turns off” by reflex to allow your elbow to bend.

This occurs with spinal muscles too. If your shoulders are always raised or your chest is tight, and your shoulders are rounded forward then some powerful postural muscles that oppose them must be switched off.

The solution, in this case, is to give specific home exercises that target the muscles that need to be ‘switched on’. Correcting these postural issues does not need to be difficult but it does occur gradually, with training and dedication.

The most common areas with weakness that effect overall posture, we have found, are the hips and shoulders.

Strengthening these areas can reduce the load placed on the spine and allow it to ‘relax’ into a healthy, natural posture.

Postural issues also develop when there is a lack of mobility around the joints. We assess for mobility issues by measuring the range of motion of that joint. Mobility issues can occur gradually over time or suddenly from injuries. In these cases, therapy can be helpful in restoring full, easy and pain free range of motion. A joint that is mobile and free of pathology will naturally sit in the optimal position for itself.

In our experience some of the most common areas with lack of mobility that effect posture are the cervical and thoracic spine areas. In these areas we see the hump at the base of the neck, forward head posture and an increased and rounded upper back.

In this clinic we use Traditional Chiropractic Adjustments, Active Soft Tissue Techniques and Shockwave Therapy as treatment options for lack of mobility problems.

Occasionally we give targeted stretches or mobilisations to take home. In our experience most ‘tight’ muscles are ‘weak’ muscles and do not require stretching but instead need to be strengthened. By strengthening the muscle over 30 – 60 days it will ‘relax’ and lengthen to a normal resting length.