Posture analysis can be controversial. Some dismiss it as an assessment tool, while others consider it crucial.

I find value in both perspectives. Ignoring posture can overlook important information about our clients, while an overemphasis may lead to incomplete assessments.

In this article, I am going to discuss my perspective on what Posture is, how I use it with my clients, and some of the information I believe we can gain from Posture as an assessment tool.

What is Posture?

Posture is a snapshot of movement in time. 

It is a reflection of our bodies ability to stand upright against gravity while also balancing many forces and systems within our body.

Some believe that looking at people’s posture allows us to see the state of the Nervous System (i.e., Fight-or-Flight and Rest-and-Digest).

For example, chest up, flared ribs, shoulder blades may signal a Fight-or-Flight response.

Essentially, Posture allows us to see how the body is moving to overcome different forces acting upon it and/or the repetitive actions our body needs to perform.

Think of a right hand baseball pitcher who is repetitively throwing with the right hand. Or a golfer who swings right. These asymmetrical sports are going to create some adaptations in their movement and potentially be seen in their Posture.

Using Posture As An Assessment Tool

Critics argue that Posture isn’t a predictive tool for pain or injury, and they are right.

However, when working with my clients I will use it as a starting point or an initial framework as to how they may move based on certain postural positions.

Oftentimes, when I explain what I see in their posture (delicately), it lines up with what they are experiencing. 

Again, this is the first step before looking at how they actually move. It isn’t something to hang your hat on.

It provides us with an understanding of where someone’s centre-of-mass is, which can have an impact on movement.

The easiest place to see this is their feet. If you see someone who has a foot dumped in on the left side, and a higher arch on the right, you may be looking at someone who has a pelvis turned to the right and holds a lot of their weight on the right side.

Looking up the chain, you may see someone with a big arch in their lower back or a forward head. These are examples of their centre-of-mass moving forward towards their toes which ultimately leads to tension and a possible restriction in movement. 

Uneven shoulders where one shoulder is higher than the other or one shoulder is rounded forward compared to the other may also provide us with some guidance as to what the body is doing.

Let’s say you are looking at someone who has a left shoulder blade that is squeezed/retracted, and a left ribcage that is flared.

In this scenario, because the left shoulder blade is squeezed, we can expect that the left upper back may be more “flat” compared to the right. (Try it and you’ll feel your right shoulder being pulled forward and your right back round slightly).

If I were then to lay this person on their back, it would make sense that they would lay heavier on the left side because it is flatter. In this position, the body would effectively be turning left and it isn’t uncommon to see better shoulder flexion as a result of this rotation.

Maybe you’re seeing a hip that is hiked up on the right side. In my experience, when I see this, I tend to see hips that will shift to the right in the squat and differences in hip mobility on one side versus the other.

Posture can provide us with some context but it is important that we confirm with a movement analysis. 

How To Assess Posture

When working with a client, I usually ask them to send me full body photos of their Posture from the Front, Back and both sides with their socks off so that I can see what their feet are doing.

This provides us with multiple vantage points to be able to get a full picture of how the body is managing gravity on both sides, and provides us with valuable information for our movement portion of the assessment.

From there I will explain what I am seeing relating back to what they have to come to me in the first place.  It’s important to always make any assessment relevant to their goals.

In conclusion, while posture may not be a definitive predictor of pain or injury, it offers valuable insights into a client’s movement patterns and overall body mechanics. By observing postural alignments and their implications, we can better understand how to tailor our approach for each individual.

If you’re eager to dive deeper into the nuances of posture assessment and learn how to integrate this understanding into your practice, consider joining our EVOLVE Biomechanics Mentorship. This program will equip you with the knowledge and skills to effectively assess and address postural issues in your clients.

For those looking for more practical application and tools, our Resilient Posture Program has a comprehensive list of exercises organized in a sequential way.