Posture

Definition Postureis the ability to maintain the relative position of parts of the body.
The function that allows us to achieve this is muscle tone.

Bad posture Some people have specific medical causes for what might be called bad posture, but for many it is often to do with simply not holding our bodies correctly, carrying extra weight or having muscles that are not strong enough or become tired quickly. Bad posture is also caused by other activities such as driving or sitting bent over a desk. Footwear has been mentioned earlier as being important with regard to safety, but it is often blamed for causing bad posture, especially high heels. Good posture As with many physical activities, it is easy to see what is good posture beca use it looks good. Whether sitting, walking, running or standing, good posture appears elegant, balanced, comfortable and effortless. The head and shoulders should be well balanced, the spine straight above the hips and the feet square to the ground. These points are emphasised in yoga. Maintaining good posture Many aspects of training have been covered and all of these contribute to good posture. The main activities for maintaining good posture include light weight training to improve and maintain muscle tone, the discipline of working and lifting correctly, and a most important but often neglected aspect of healthrelated exercise, flexibility.

llili aMd Tipl.

Be able to describe and explain the importance of good posture.