Causes of Poor Posture

1. Injury and Muscle Guarding

After an injury, nearby muscles begin to guard the vulnerable area. Muscles adjacent to an injury work in a diminished way to keep the affected part stable and free from re-injury. This is a necessary function, but it causes those muscles to weaken. The imbalance between muscles that guard an injury and normal, working muscles can cause abberations in body posture.

2. Disease and Nutritional State

The presence of disease, dehydration and/or malnutriton can cause conditions that directly affect the bones, muscles and other structures of the musculoskeletal system. Because the structures of the musculoskeletal system provide the strength and flexibility for good posture, deficiencies and disease can negatively affect posture.

3. Habit

The body in movement alters its patterns to accomodate weaknesses, tension or changes in bone or muscle landscape. It does this in a similar way to encountering a road block. The musculoskeletal system will create a detour to complete its intended movement. It negotiates its intended route by using other less efficient patterns of muscle contraction. In this way the body still gets to its goal, but with a comprised alignment.

4. Muscle Tension, Muscle Weakness

Just as in the case of an injury, if the body has areas that are extra weak and/or strong, it will not be held upright against gravity in the most effective manner. This will cause poor posture and pain.

5. Mental Attitude and Stress

Often stress leads to a decrease in full breathing, which in turn compensates body posture, as the two are inextricably linked.

6. Heredity

Sometimes it's just in the genes!

7. Improper Shoes

Clothing, and especially shoes affect posture. If one wears down the outside of the shoes faster than the inside, for example, the shoes will amplfy this effect. This will create a nervous system feedback loop that promotes an imbalanced posture.