Postural assessment- fixing your bad posture can make you healthier and more confident!

Bad posture can lead to weak joints and muscles, improper blood circulation, headache, neck pain and other dangerous health problems!

By: Upneet Pansare | | Updated: December 12, 2017 8:54 pm

Posture assessment is the process of analysing someone’s posture, balance, alignment, asymmetries and motion. This is the crucial first step to improving and strengthening posture. Physical analysis includes spine analysis, gait analysis, muscle strength analysis and functional movement analysis. Dr Manoj Kutteri, Wellness Director at Atmantan Wellness Centre, gives us details about postural assessment. Also Read - Living With Parkinson's Disease: It's okay to be shaky

What are the ill effects of bad posture?
When we have a bad posture, there’s early wear and tear of the body muscles and joints. There’s improper blood circulation which in turn impedes the nutrition to the joints and muscles causing a number of deformities. There can be numerous problems like neck pain, back pain, pain between shoulder blades, loss of height, ankle and foot problems, tension, headaches and diminished lung and cardiac capacity. Also Read - How to diagnose the cause of back pain

What does the postural assessment procedure involve?
The procedure involves standing in front of a postural analysis grid where your posture is assessed followed by a detailed examination of muscle strength, flexibility and joint functions. Also Read - 5 daily spine damaging activities

How long does each session take and how long does it take to achieve results?
One session would take 20 to 40 minutes depending on how good or bad the patient’s posture is. Once the postural assessment is done, the physiotherapist would suggest certain lifestyle changes, work environment changes, some exercises at work, some tips to follow, certain stretches to correct the imbalances and sometimes strengthening exercises or core strengthening exercises.

How often should you do postural assessment?
A postural assessment should be done once a year to see a marked difference in the posture. It’s a slow process.

What benefits will you see after doing postural assessment?
The benefits are numerous. You understand your body mechanics and ways to do the work with least strain on your joints. Your posture improves which gives you a huge confidence. A number of imbalances are corrected in the body. Your muscles start working more effectively.

Things to keep in mind after doing postural assessment
To maintain a good posture is not an easy task. You need a constant feedback and a sincere effort to strengthen your core muscles. You can keep reminders on phone to remind you about your posture.
People who have undergone a surgery, those who use walking aids can’t do a postural assessment as they are yet to recover completely. People who have balance issues pertaining to neurological conditions can’t do postural assessment.

Image source: Shutterstock

Published : December 12, 2017 8:52 pm | Updated:December 12, 2017 8:54 pm

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