From Anne Asher,
Your Guide to Back & Neck Pain.
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Definition: Ideal alignment is a balanced posture in which positioning is centered and relaxed for all the joints of the body. With joints in non-awkward positions, muscles relax, and unnecessary tension can be released.

Ideal alignment is the most mechanically efficient positioning for the body.

Ideal alignment uses a plumb line to compare the relative positions of the:

• ears
• shoulders
• spine
• hips
• knees
• ankles
• feet

If these structures are not lined up with the plumb line, there are likely to be muscular imbalances that can be addressed by stretching, strengthening, physical therapy, and other treatments.

Also Known As: standard posture