What Does A Posture Screen Tell Me About My Health?

Posted on in Back Pain, Neurospinal Restoration, Posture by Dr. Graham Norton

fredericton chiropractor posture

As part of your Initial Neurospinal Exam or Annual Neurophysical Exam, we will be testing your posture using Posture Screen. Posture is such an important part of your overall health.. the following are some effects of poor posture on your health.

  1. Reduced Lung Function & Capacity

    • Slouching significantly reduces your lung volume: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁), and tidal volume are all affected in people who sit for extended periods. PMC+2PMC+2

    • Forward head carriage, rounded shoulders, or thoracic kyphosis compress the rib cage and diaphragm, making deep inhalation and full exhalation more difficult.

  2. Increased Pain & Musculoskeletal Strain

    • Poor posture (e.g. forward head, rounded shoulders, hunched back) leads to muscle strain, ligament stress, joint misalignment—all contributing to neck, upper-back, and lower back pain.

    • Even relatively short periods (15-minutes) of poor posture before physical activities can increase fatigue in upper limb/back muscles and reduce performance. PubMed

  3. Fatigue, Energy Deficit & Reduced Physical Function

    • Because less oxygen is getting in (due to restricted lung expansion) and because muscles are working harder (to compensate for poor alignment), there is often greater fatigue. PMC+4ISHN+4Longdom+4

    • Poor posture over time may reduce exercise tolerance. PMC+1

  4. Other Related Effects

    • Respiratory symptoms: shallow or laboured breathing, possibly increased risk of breathlessness.

    • Digestion: slouching compresses abdominal organs, which could slow digestion or contribute to reflux, constipation etc.

    • Mood, cognition, and psychological well-being: posture can affect mood (slouching is linked with depressive feelings), and self-esteem; poor posture can also reduce alertness and increase mental fatigue.

We hope this information is helping you better understand all of the objective testing we are doing. We are digging deep to help you get the best health outcomes with your chiropractic care.

 

Hi! I'm Dr. Graham and I am passionate about delivering the most comprehensive and results driven spine care available. I love working with people who want to make a real and lasting difference in their health. I love travelling locally, outdoor activities like road biking and skate skiing, good coffee, and my family (Dr. Marie, and our two wonderful daughters Zoey & Eloise).