It has been a while since I posted, and that is partly because I have been on spring break vacation with my wife and kids. We went to Disneyland (Yuck.) Whenever I am someplace where there’s a lot of people, I tend to get into people watching mode. And as someone who is very interested… Continue Reading
Move better. Feel better.
Category Archives: posture
Barefoot Running, Squatting Like a Baby, and Pygmy Feet
I just came across a very interesting article on the tree climbing ability of pygmies and the extreme ankle flexibility that allows them to do it. I know, this is something you have always wondered about. I think it sheds some light on a couple of common debates relating to the impact of the modern… Continue Reading
Review of Paul Hodges talk on Motor Control, Part One
This is part one of my review* of Paul Hodges’ talk at the conference on pain and motor control that he did with Lorimer Moseley in Portland in October 2012. You can read my review of Lorimer’s talk here. Professor Transversus Abdominis Hodges is a professor of physiotherapy and neuroscience at the University of Queensland… Continue Reading
Does Anterior Pelvic Tilt Cause Low Back Pain?
Question: What is anterior pelvic tilt? Answer: It means the front end of the pelvis tips forward and the back end hikes up. Question: Will that make my gut look bigger? Answer: Yes. Question: Is that why my low back hurts? Answer: Let’s check the internet… What Google Says An internet search for anterior pelvic… Continue Reading
Posture and Pain Tolerance
I have written previously about interesting links between posture and mood. Several studies show that altering your posture in one way or another can have measurable effects on your hormone levels and behavior. For example, sitting in a relaxed expansive posture can make you more likely to make a risky bet, and sitting in a… Continue Reading
Is a Standing Desk A Good Idea?
There has been a lot of discussion on the internets recently about the idea that excessive sitting is bad for your health. For example, a widely circulated article from the New York Times asked whether sitting is a “lethal activity.” The concern is based on several studies that have shown that the number of hours spent sitting per day is a risk factor for a wide variety of …… Continue Reading
Posture and Mood: A Two Way Street
You may have noticed that your mood can affect your posture. For example, if you are feeling depressed, defeated, or submissive, you may slump. If you are feeling proud, confident or dominant, your chest may rise and you may get taller. So it should be obvious that your emotional state will reflect itself in your… Continue Reading
Three Essential Elements of Good Posture
In a previous post I wrote about several common misconceptions about posture. In this post I’ll try to explain some essential functional elements of good posture that are often overlooked, and give some creative ways to work toward them. Good posture defined Good posture should meet several conditions. First, it should be efficient, i.e. let… Continue Reading
Five Misconceptions About Posture
As a Rolfer, I see many people who tell me they are working on their posture. Many are already in the process of applying some questionable advice they may have read on the internet. This post summarizes some of the major misconceptions people seem to have about posture. Bad Idea #1: Bad Posture Is The… Continue Reading
Back Pain Myths: Posture, Core Strength, Bulging Discs
Problem? It is an article of faith among many mainstream experts that poor posture, lack of core strength, and/or structural abnormalities such as bulging discs are major causes of pain, especially back pain. A further assumption is that by working to correct such imbalances, through stretching or strengthening regimes, or surgery, the imbalances can be… Continue Reading