What is Good posture and Poor posture?

Answer 1

The criteria for good posture is a properly aligned spine and plum load bearing joints as applicable under under the following conditions: siting, laying, walking, standing and bending. While standing with the back properly aligned ("straight") the shoulders, hips, knees and ankles should be along the same plum line. This keeps the pressure along the spine uniform and prevents compressing of the disks between the vertebrae caused by either swaying or slouching of the back. It also keeps the load centered over the strongest load bearing joints of the body. Poor posture is having the spine out of alignment but does not necessarily mean your major load bearing joints are not plum. For instance if your lower backs sways your upper back and neck will typically hunch forward to compensate to keep your center of gravity normal and place the load over the main joints. However, this results in a compression of the lower and upper back disks between the vertebrae. To determine if you have good or poor posture you should compare your normal forward and sideways stance in front of a mirror to the ideal diagrams for good posture. Secondly, you should use a plum line to see if your shoulders, hips, knees and ankles are aligned directly over one another.