Spinal posture
Spinal posture is the position of the
Neutral spine
Looking directly at the front or back of the body, the 33 vertebrae in the spinal column should appear completely vertical. From a side view, the cervical (neck) region of the spine (C1–C7) is bent inward, the thoracic (upper back) region (T1–T12) bends outward, and the lumbar (lower back) region (L1–L5) bends inward. The sacrum (tailbone area) (S1–S5 fused) and coccyx (on average 4 fused) rest between the
Posture abnormalities
In medicine and occupations concerned with physical fitness, the concept of good posture is referred to as "neutral spine".[7] In this context, proper posture or "neutral spine", is the proper alignment of the body between postural extremes. Deviations from neutral alignment are identified as excessive curvature or reduction in curvature. Rarely do these deviations in curvature occur in only one plane; however, they are typically referred to in this manner.[8] In the anterior/posterior view, deviation from vertical results in abnormal lateral curvature of the spine called scoliosis. In the sagittal view, excessive curvature in the cervical region is cervical lordosis, in the thoracic region thoracic kyphosis, and in the lumbar region lumbar lordosis. Reduction in curvature is typically termed flat back if present in the thoracic region and lumbar kyphosis if present in the lumbar region.[5] In posture analysis, the spine is compared to a plumb line to detect the aforementioned abnormalities. From the anterior/posterior view this plumb line should run vertically down the midline of the body dividing it symmetrically into right and left halves indicating even weight distribution on left and right sides. From the sagittal view the plumb line should bisect the ear, odontoid process of C2, the cervical vertebral bodies, the center of the glenohumeral joint, the lumbar vertebral bodies, the center of the acetabulum, just posterior to the patella, and through the tarsals of the feet.[9] This sagittal line of reference theoretically indicates even distribution of weight between the front and the back of the body.
Quantifying abnormalities
References
- PMID 22608170.
- S2CID 201756091.
- ^ "How to Correct Posture Exercises - Sydney Sports and Exercise Physiology". ssep.com.au. 2020-07-11. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ https://studenthealth.sa.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/2021-03/posture.pdf
- ^ a b Marieb, E. N. (2001), Human Anatomy & Physiology, San Francisco, CA: Pearson Education Inc., Publishing as Benjamin Cummings, pp. 215–216
- ^ Kendal, F. P.; McCreary, E. K.; Provance, P. G.; Rodgers, M. M.; Romani, W A. (2005), Muscles Testing and Function with Posture and Pain (5th Edition), Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, pp. 49–65
- ^ Webster, Deborah, The Neutral Spine, wellbridge.com, archived from the original on 2007-08-22
- ^ PMID 19247697
- ^ Kritz, E. N.; Croin (2008), Static Posture Assessment Screen of Athletes: Benefits and Considerations., Journal of Strength and Conditioning, pp. 18–27
- S2CID 20997025