Question

Draw two arrows. One to represent healthy posture of the spine and one arrow that represents abnormal posture of the spine. Draw an outline of a person if this helps to support your response.

Answer 1

First let us understand, what is posture ?

Posture is defined as how you hold your body. There are msinly of two types: 1) Static posture - it is how you hold yourself when you are standing or sitting or sleeping and not moving. 2) Dynamic posture - it is how you hold yourself when you are moving like eg. when you are walking or running or bending and doing some work.

Now, how this posture is maintained ? It is maintained by the position of your spine.

Let us learn anatomy of spine , spine is formed by combination of different vertebra which includes 7 cervical vertebra, 12 thoracic vertebra , 5 lumbar vertebra, 5 fused sacral vertebra forming sacrum bone and coccyx. Now this has three natural curves - at neck(cervical vertebra), mid back(thoracic vertebra), and low back(lumbar vertebra).

very important is that what is correct posture ? , correct posture is maintain these curves, but not increasing the curvatures. Position of head should be above the shoulders, and the top of your shoulder and u should b sitting or standing with erect spine.

DIAGRAM SHOWING HEALTHY and ABNORMAL posture

Abnormal posture shows increased curvature in spine.

They are mainly of 3 types,

1 - Kyphosis - It is a spinal disorder characterised by an excessive outward curve of the spine resulting in an abnormal rounding of the upper back.

2 - Scoliosis - It is characterised by abnormal curvsture of spine on side (lateral aspect)

3 - Lordosis - It is characterised by abnormal excessive inward curvature of lower lumbar spine causing abnormal posture