What Is Posture?
Posture is how you hold your body in a position that protects against excessive stress while requiring minimal muscular effort to maintain. Your posture should be in a comfortable position that does not irritate your spinal tissues or compromise your musculoskeletal health. When you have a good posture, your spine is well aligned, allowing your bones, ligaments, and muscles to stack and move properly. It also allows proper blood circulation and breathing. This leads to good balance and the ability to function normally when performing various activities such as walking, lifting, running, or standing for prolonged durations.
When you have a good standing posture, you should not be rigid or stiff; you should stand loosely and be flexible with your:
- Straight back
- Head up, chin in, and looking straight ahead
- Relaxed shoulders
- Tummy in
- Balanced weight evenly on your two feet
- Knees straight
When sitting, your knees should make a right angle, your feet on the floor, and your back should rest against the back of the chair. You should avoid crossing your legs. When you maintain a good posture, it helps prevent back, muscle, and neck pain.