ABNORMAL POSURE

DEFINITION

• Posture: posture is the position of your body parts in relation to

each other at any given time. Posture can be static, as in a stationary
position such as standing, sitting, or lying. It can be dynamic as the
body moves from one position to another
• Abnormal posture: Deviation from “good” posture is considered
“poor” or “bad” posture
 Abnormal posture:

Causes of poor posture can be the result of

• structural problems.
• These structural problems may result from a congenital malformation
such as a hemivertebra.
• The deviation may be an acquired deformity caused by trauma such as
a compression fracture.
• Postural deviations also may result from neurological conditions that
cause paralysis or spasticity
Factors affecting posture

•General health
• •Body build
• •Gender
• •Strength and endurance
• •Kinesthetic awareness
• •Personal habits
• •Demands of the work place
• •Social and cultural traditions
 Development of Postural Curves
• At birth, the entire vertebral column is flexed. When viewed from the
sagittal plane, it is anteriorly concave.
• This concave curve is called a primary curve The thoracic and sacral
curves are considered primary curves.
• When lying in a prone position, a 2- to 4-month-old infant begins to lift
its head; at approximately 5 to 6 months of age, an infant begins
bilateral lifting of its lower extremities.
• These two antigravity extension actions create the secondary curves.
• These are the anteriorly convex curves of the cervical and lumbar
regions.
 Spinal curvature:

• –In the neonate: the whole spine is flexed

forming a “C” shaped curve (convex
posteriorly) from the occiput to the
sacrum
• –When the infant begins to lift his head:
the cervical curve reverses to become
convex anteriorly
• –As the toddler begins to sit and stand:
the lumbar curve reverses like the cervical
• Once the standing position is achieved, the spine has four curves:
• 1.Cervicalcurvature: convex anteriorly(secondary)
• 2.Thoracic curvature: convex posteriorly(primary)
• 3.Lumbar curvature: convex anteriorly(secondary)
• 4.Sacral curvature: convex posteriorly(primary