Why Postural Analysis Matters

What is Posture?  The term posture describes the relationship among various parts of the body, their anatomical arrangement and how well they do or do not fit together.  Our body has many tools to help us control our upright posture, but many of these tools are a function of our subconscious mind, leaving us vulnerable to developing poor habits that compromise our posture, alignment and balance.

The Importance of Postural Assessment   Just as doctors use X-rays, CAT scans and MRIs to evaluate, educate, design customized treatment plans and document progress, a body worker or massage therapist should include postural analysis when doing a client intake.  By doing a postural assessment with a new or existing client, you will be able to create a personalized treatment plan based on physical evidence that reveals imbalances in the body.  You will also be able to review your findings after a series of treatments to see where progress has been made and where adjustments to treatment may be necessary.

As a client of bodywork, this should be just as important to you as it is to the provider.  With this kind of postural assessment you gain awareness of areas that have become weaker over time and can now start moving and exercising with intention to strengthen those areas.  Awareness of your imbalances will help you to change bad habits and learn new ways of moving that will cause less pain and stress, especially as we age. 

Another reason, and perhaps the most important, is to save you time and money.  When your therapist does a postural assessment, they know exactly where your imbalances are and have the ability to recommend a specific treatment plan and exercises to alleviate your pain and discomfort.  You also have more awareness of your body, which will help you make healthier choices.  After a prescribed time period, a follow-up assessment should be done to evaluate progress and make necessary adjustments to the treatment plan to reach your health goals.

Advantages of Postural Alignment   As we age, our posture becomes more and more important.  What starts out as tightness in the pectorals and chest area, will eventually lead to rounding of the upper back and the stooped position that we see in many elderly women.  There could be many factors contributing to this particular imbalance in the body, a couple being your work environment or injury.   Another possibility is self-image.  I had a female friend who was over 6 feet and had always been taller than her other classmates growing up.   She had adopted a hunched posture to appear less tall than she actually is.  In the long run, a postural imbalance like this will continue to weaken back muscles and tighten neck muscles causing the curvature of the spine to become exaggerated and compromised, leading to pain, discomfort and the possibility of arthritis and other degenerative diseases.

Get a Postural Assessment Now   Everyone seeking to improve their health, so that they can stay active well into their old age, should be asking â??how can I prevent this from happening to me?â?  The answer, get a postural assessment.  Have your therapist document with pictures and on paper, so there is a record of the findings and they can explain them to you.  Decide on a treatment plan together.   Both self-care, including specific exercises, and treatments with your body worker or massage therapist will be of benefit.   Then re-assess your postural alignment in 2-4 months to see what progress has been made and where strengthening and adjustments to your treatment plan are still required.

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