By Majda Mehdizadeh
Physiotherapist at Life Ready Physio South Perth

We’ve all heard the words “sit up straight”, “don’t slump” and “shoulders back” a lot over the years. You may have been told by many health care professionals that your posture needed to be corrected, but have we been fighting this battle in vain? Is there such a thing as the “perfect” posture? And if there is, does it actually matter?

With so many people experiencing some sort of back pain, it isn’t surprising that posture, and the pursuit of the perfect posture, has been such a big part in the management of back pain.

The truth is, some of us were born with, or have developed, a certain “sub optimal” posture that probably doesn’t need to be changed.

The amount of sitting our modern lives entail is arguably a much bigger issue. From sitting in the car on the way to work, sitting at work, sitting in the car on the way home only to sit back on the couch once we get there…

We might be better off simply changing postures (aka MOVING).

Here are some ways to incorporate movement into your workday:

• Sit to stand desks

Many offices have bought in sit-to-stand desks to give workers the choice and opportunity to stand during the day. These are a great way to incorporate positional changes throughout the day and allow the legs muscles to stretch and activate.

• Different positions for different tasks

You can also move your body while you’re sitting at your desk.

– If you’re typing, sit up tall.

– For phone calls, lean back in your chair.

– For writing tasks, lean forward.

This way, your body and back moves through different positions throughout the day.

• Walk

Instead of sitting at your desk and eating your lunch, go for a walk instead. Instead of sending an email or making a phone call to a colleague, walk over to them.

If distractions get the better of you at work, set reminders on your computer or phone to remind you to get up.

The take home message is, no matter what your posture is, change it. Constantly. Movement is medicine.

For more information on how you can best manage your posture each day, or for an ergonomic assessment, contact your local Life Ready team.