Posture
Evolution figures for postural advice
One of my wishes for the Year of the Monkey is that all my patients may behave more like monkeys, more on the move and stretching their arms and legs out. I always tell patients to think more of the evolution figures of the human being that we have evolved from walking almost on all fours to gradually standing up to free our hands for fine manipulations that have led to the success of the human race. Our musculoskeletal system has evolved to allow us to stand, walk and run upright, not sitting down. It has only been over the last century that more and more of us are required to sit at our workplace and at our leisure times�𦷪ffice work, computer, reading, TV, movies, computer games, the internet. Perhaps the next figure to be added to our evolution chart is going to be a sitting human being with a slouching/forward head posture, losing our normal 'S' shape of the spine and gaining a more kyphotic (forward bending) shape of the whole thoracic and lumbar spine (upper and low back). It is amazing how many of us are adopting such a 'comfortable' posture most time of the day! Perhaps the spine may eventually evolve to adopt such alignment as being normal. This evolution process will certainly take many more centuries and millions more herniated discs, sprained intervertebral ligaments, overused/strained back muscles. Until then, I will still continue to encourage patients to maintain their lumbar lordosis (S-curve), minimize their thoracic kyphosis (upper back slouching) and to continue their double chin cervical (neck) spine posture.
Besides needing good postures, the human musculoskeletal system is also designed to move. Circulation of the joint, particularly the cartilage, requires regular motions in all directions to stimulate fluid exchange. Degeneration occurs more likely if a joint is immobilized. Unfortunately, it is so difficult to convince patients to mobilize their stiff and painful body when they could feel so much more 'relaxing' to sit or lay in bed. However, I will still continue to try my best to encouraged patients to mobilize appropriately. 'Use it or lose it', 'Move it or lose it' will still apply to human beings in the mean time.
Luck LI
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
Besides needing good postures, the human musculoskeletal system is also designed to move. Circulation of the joint, particularly the cartilage, requires regular motions in all directions to stimulate fluid exchange. Degeneration occurs more likely if a joint is immobilized. Unfortunately, it is so difficult to convince patients to mobilize their stiff and painful body when they could feel so much more 'relaxing' to sit or lay in bed. However, I will still continue to try my best to encouraged patients to mobilize appropriately. 'Use it or lose it', 'Move it or lose it' will still apply to human beings in the mean time.
Luck LI
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist