P R E S E N T E D B YM W A D Z I W A N A L O U I S L A W

POSTURE ANALYSIS

WHAT IS POSTURE ?

• Posture is a position of greatest efficiency, around your center of gravity, with muscles on all sides, exerting pull equally.

CORRECT POSTURE

Correct posture“Position in which minimum stress is

placed on each joint.” (Magee)Maintains the natural curves

Faulty postureAny position that increases stress on jointsCreate muscle imbalances, ligamentous

tension, circulatory occlusion

CAUSES OF POOR POSTURE

• Positional factors/Habitual• Appearance of increased height (social stigma)• Muscle imbalances/contractures• Pain e.g. ICD pleural effusion• Respiratory conditions

CAUSES OF POOR POSTURE

• Structural factors• Congenital anomalies• Developmental problems• Trauma• Disease

FACTORS AFFECTING POSTURAL ANALYSIS

• Subject must be minimally clothed• The subject must assume a comfortable and

relaxed posture• Subjects who use orthotic or assistive devices

should be assessed with and without them to determine their effectiveness in correcting posture.• relevant medical history and other information

THE SPINAL COLUMN

• Primary curves• Thoracic spine• Sacrum

• Secondary curves• Cervical spine• Lumbar spine

LATERAL VIEW

• Head and neck:• Plumb line: The line

falls through the ear lobe to the acromion process.

• Common faults include:• Forward head: • Flattened lordotic

cervical curve• Excessive Lordotic curve

LATERAL VIEW

Shoulder:• Plumb line: It falls

through the acromion process.

• Common faults include:• Forward shoulders• Lumbar Lordosis

LATERAL VIEW

• Thoracic vertebrae• Plumb line: The line

bisects the chest symmetrically.

• Common faults • Kyphosis• Pectus excavatum

(Funnel chest)• Barrel chest• Pectus cavinatum

(Pigeon chest)

LATERAL VIEW

• Lumbar vertebrae:• Plumb Line: The line

falls midway between the abdomen and back and slightly anterior to the sacroiliac Joint.

• Common faults include:• Lordosis• Sway back• Flat back

LATERAL VIEW

• Pelvis and hip: • Plumb Line: The line

falls slightly anterior to the sacroiliac joint and posterior to the hip joint, through the greater trochanter, creating an extension moment.

• Common faults include:• Anterior pelvic tilt• Posterior pelvic tilt

LATERAL VIEW

• Knee:• Plumb line: The line

passes slightly anterior to the midline of the knee, creating an extension moment.

• Common faults include:• Genu recurvatum• Flexed knee

LATERAL VIEW

• Ankle: • Plumb line: The line

lies slightly anterior to the lateral malleolus, aligned with tuberosity of 5th metatarsal.

• Common faults include:• Forward posture:

POSTERIOR VIEW

• Head and neck:• Plumb line: The midline bisects the head through

the external occipital protuberance; head is usually positioned squarely over the shoulders so that eyes remain level. • Common faults include:• Head tilt• Head rotated• Adducted scapulae• Abducted scapulae• Winging of the scapulae:

POSTERIOR VIEW

• Trunk• Plumb Line: The line bisects the spinous process

of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. • Common faults include:• Lateral deviation (Scoliosis)

POSTERIOR VIEW

• Pelvis and Hip:• Plumb line: The line bisects the gluteal cleft and

the posterior superior iliac spines are on the same horizontal plane; the iliac crests, gluteal folds and greater trochanters are level. • Common faults include:• Lateral pelvic tilt• Pelvic rotation• Abducted hip

POSTERIOR VIEW

• Knee• Plumb Line: The plumb line lies, equidistant

between the knees. • Common faults include:• Genu varum• Genu Valgum

POSTERIOR VIEW

• Ankle and Foot• Plumb line: The line is equidistant from the

malleoli, a line (Feiss’) is drawn from the medial malleolus to the first metatarsal bone and the tuberosity of the navicular bone lies on the line. • Common faults include: • Pes planus (Pronated)• Pes Cavus (supinated)

ANTERIOR VIEW

• Head and Neck:• Plumb Line: The line bisects the head at the midline into

equal halves. Common faults include:• Lateral Tilt• Rotation• Mandibular asymmetry

ANTERIOR VIEW

• Shoulders:• Plumb Line: A vertical line bisects the sternum

and xiphoid process. • It may be due to:• Dropped or elevated shoulder• Clavicle and joint asymmetry

ANTERIOR VIEW

• Elbows:• Common faults include:• Cubitus valgus: The forearm deviates laterally from the

arm at angle greater than 15° (female) and 10° (male). It may be due to: • Elbow hyperextension.• Distal displacement of trochlea in relation to capitulum of

humerus.• Stretched ulnar collateral ligament.

• Cubitus varus

ANTERIOR VIEW

• Hip• Plumb line: Common faults include:• Lateral rotation• Medial rotation

ANTERIOR VIEW

• Knee:• Plumb Line: The legs are equidistant from a

vertical line through the body. • Common Faults include:• External tibial torsion• Internal tibial torsion

ANTERIOR VIEW

• Ankle and Foot:• Plumb line: Common Faults include:• Hallux valgus:• Hammer toes

LATERAL VIEW

POSTERIOR VIEW

ANTERIOR VIEW

REFERENCES

• Lynn S. Lippert, Clinical Kinesiology and Anatomy 2006• Chaplin, Lori, MS, Maloney, Ryan “Picture Perfect

Posture” IDEA Personal Trainer, Sept 2002

•THANK YOU