Posture is defined as: "the relative disposition of the parts of something, the position of the limbs or the carriage of the body as a whole"(1) or "the way in which your body is positioned when you are sitting or standing; the position or bearing of the body whether characteristic or assumed for a special purpose"(2)
Alignment is defined as: "an adjustment to a line; arrangement in a straight line"(3) or "the act of aligning or state of being aligned; especially : the proper positioning or state of adjustment of parts (as of a mechanical or electronic device) in relation to each other"(4)
In 1947, the Posture Committee of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons defined posture as follows(5):
Alignment is defined as: "an adjustment to a line; arrangement in a straight line"(3) or "the act of aligning or state of being aligned; especially : the proper positioning or state of adjustment of parts (as of a mechanical or electronic device) in relation to each other"(4)
In 1947, the Posture Committee of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons defined posture as follows(5):
Posture is usually defined as the relative arrangement of the parts of the body. Good posture is that state of muscular and skeletal balance which protects the supporting structures of the body against injury or progressive deformity, irrespective of the attitude (erect, lying, squating, or stooping) in which these structures are working or resting. Under such conditions the muscles will function most efficiently and the optimum positions are afforded for the thoracic and abdominal organs. Poor posture is a faulty relationship of the various parts of the body which produces increased strain on the supporting structures and in which there is less efficient balance of the body over its base of support.
Proper Postural Alignment then looks like this:
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To understand proper postural alignment we need to explain that the human body has eight major load joints: 2 ankles, 2 knees, 2 hips, and 2 shoulders. These joints are designed to align vertically one on top of another from the sagittal (side), frontal (front) and transverse (top) views. Since gravity is constantly applying a force to the human body, it is important for the 8 major load joints to be aligned properly. When the body is in proper postural alignment, gravity applies a vertical load through the body that has a positive impact on the structures of the body and strengthens tissues (bone, cartilage, muscle, connective tissues, intervertebral discs, etc) via the forces applied. When the body is not in proper postural alignment, gravity creates damaging stress, strain, and friction that breaks down tissues (bone, cartilage, muscle, connective tissues, intervertebral discs, etc) and leads to injury and disability.
 Dysfunction Postural Alignment - Frontal View photo credit - Pain Free for Women by Pete Egoscue |  Dysfunctional Postural Alignment - Sagittal View photo credit - Pain Free for Women by Pete Egoscue |
Many experts including many who teach the Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais®, Pilates, yoga and physical therapy talk about the need to be conscious and mindful of our posture and how we move all day long so we can maintain good or natural posture. The problem with this idea is that our postural alignment is supposed to be unconscious. Most young kids are great examples of proper unconscious postural alignment.
Proper Postural Alignment in a child. photo credit - Pain Free for Women by Pete Egoscue
Young children are not thinking about their body alignment, how they are standing, how they are sitting, if their shoulders are back or stomach is tight, they are just running around enjoying life. Their postural alignment is maintained by the muscle memory of the deep postural muscles that was built up by the variety of movement they put their body through on a daily basis.
Our postural alignment is designed to be maintained by the deep postural muscles without conscious control. When we think about our body posture and joint alignment (conscious control) and change our alignment by thinking about it we are most likely using our peripheral muscles not our deep postural muscles. This changes joint alignment, movement patterns, and the forces tissues of the body are under. Any conscious control of posture increases rigidity of the body which increases stress and strain on joints, muscles, and connective tissues.
We also need to think about what happens when the person forgets about their posture? It goes back to its imbalances patterns of old, which can cause sudden injury (sprained ankle, ruptured or herniated disc, torn meniscus, strained muscles).
Proper postural alignment is therefore created and maintained by restoring proper joint position and muscle length and tension by doing Postural Alignment Therapy that uses specific Egoscue posture exercises (e-cises) that will reset the body's unconscious muscle memory. This means we can go through our day - sitting, standing, running, playing sports, etc - without having to think about our movement patterns and posture, moving like we did as kids and will have peace of mind knowing that our bodies are working as they were designed - naturally, functionally, efficiently, and pain free.
Our postural alignment is designed to be maintained by the deep postural muscles without conscious control. When we think about our body posture and joint alignment (conscious control) and change our alignment by thinking about it we are most likely using our peripheral muscles not our deep postural muscles. This changes joint alignment, movement patterns, and the forces tissues of the body are under. Any conscious control of posture increases rigidity of the body which increases stress and strain on joints, muscles, and connective tissues.
We also need to think about what happens when the person forgets about their posture? It goes back to its imbalances patterns of old, which can cause sudden injury (sprained ankle, ruptured or herniated disc, torn meniscus, strained muscles).
Proper postural alignment is therefore created and maintained by restoring proper joint position and muscle length and tension by doing Postural Alignment Therapy that uses specific Egoscue posture exercises (e-cises) that will reset the body's unconscious muscle memory. This means we can go through our day - sitting, standing, running, playing sports, etc - without having to think about our movement patterns and posture, moving like we did as kids and will have peace of mind knowing that our bodies are working as they were designed - naturally, functionally, efficiently, and pain free.
- Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/posture
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/posture
- Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/alignment
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alignment
- Posture and its relationship to orthopaedic disabilities. A report of the Posture Committee of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons 1947
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