Your posture has a large influence not only on your physical appearance but also on how your body functions. Poor posture leads to imbalances that cause your muscles to work more to counteract gravity's pull and fatigue quicker. When your body is properly aligned, it is well-balanced with minimum stress and strain on the bones, ligaments and muscles. Less energy is required for movement with good posture, increasing energy efficiency and function.

A postural assessment is an important first step in the design of a client's exercise program. At Anatomically Correct, a unique postural assessment screen is used to view your posture from all angles.

How Do You Stand Up?

Your body should be aligned equally side-to-side and back-to-front. When your body is in balance, it requires less effort to stay erect whereas unequal alignment results in more wear and tear on your body. With better postural alignment, you will not only look younger, you will move better too.

Over time, poor posture causes muscle weakness or tightness. Below are three examples of common faulty postures and their associated muscle tightness and/or weakness.

In Lordosis, the pelvis is tilted forward, creating an excessive curve in the low back, caused by weak abdominals and tight hip flexors, often a result of too much sitting.

The Kyphosis posture, with the rounded back and forward head and shoulders position, can also be caused by too much time spent sitting, for example, hunched over a computer keyboard.

In Sway Back posture, the pelvis is displaced forward and the low back loses its natural curve and flattens, often leading to low back pain.