Postural Problems Treatment

The spine, peripheral joints, muscles, tendons etc are meant to be (and work) in a certain alignment - when this is the case it could be described as perfect posture. Perfect posture is rare but the closer one can get to it the less likely one is to suffer the consequences or poor alignment.

If we deviate too far from this and then hold those positions problems will arise. For example certain muscles will be overactive and shortened and others under active and lengthened. This causes an imbalance and consequently affects the quality of joint movement. It hugely increases the likelihood of straining, spraining, and pinching soft tissue.

No one postural position should be held for any great length of time. Skeletal muscles broadly fit into two categories. 'Fast twitch' fibre muscles which produce a force over a short period of time and then return to a resting tone. 'Slow twitch' muscle fibre (often described as core stability muscle) which doesn't produce great amounts of movement but can stay working at relatively low levels for long periods of time i.e. their endurance is greater.

Many physios including those at hertsphysio can advise on Pilates based exercises in order to improve the condition of core stability muscles and reduce shortening in others.