Yosifon D, Stearns PN. The rise and fall of American posture. Am Hist Rev 1998;103(4):1057–95. doi: 10.2307/2651198. Search PubMed Never heard of a posture pole before? A posture pole is a long semi-circular foam device that resembles a foam roller cut in half. It is very simple to use – the individual lays on the posture pole, ensuring the head and tailbone are resting on the pole. Laying on a posture pole works by doing the following: Obesity is a well-documented significant contributor to increased morbidity and mortality, but recent evidence suggests that it also affects postural adaptions. 25 A recent cross-sectional study of 420 students found a statistically significant increase in the prevalence of knee valgus, exaggerated thoracic kyphosis and lumbar hyperlordosis in students who were overweight and obese. 26 This finding is shared by several other studies, but so far there has been no clear evidence of this change in posture directly causing pain. 27,28 However, as discussed previously, this is important to consider within an individual’s context. Consider an adolescent who is overweight playing a high-impact sport, such as basketball or netball, presenting with anterior knee pain. Increasing knee valgus, a sign of poor rotational control of the lower limb, increases anterior knee loads. 29 Therefore, correcting this posture, and consequently improving control over knee valgus, would likely be key to reducing symptoms and maintaining participation. However, it is important to keep in mind that not everyone with increased knee valgus willexperience pain because of this. Conclusion Keeve JP. ‘Fitness,’ ‘posture’ and other selected school health myths. J Sch Health 1967;37(1):8–15. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1967.tb07013.x. Search PubMed You can buy posture poles from many Chiropractic practices around Australia, including all our nine of our Total Health practices. Posture poles can work well alongside Chiropractic care for a long term solution to postural issues.

If walking round the side of a hill rather than going up to the top, and down the other side use a shorter pole on the rise side and lengthen the pole for the fall side to give you best support.Posture is almost certainly associated with pain and morbidity, but this is likely to be a much weaker association than previously thought. There is also a strong argument that this association is more attributed to sedentary behaviour, which inherently involves sustained postures. However, incases of clear pathology and/or specific context for the presenting patient, specific postural advice may be necessary to reduce tissue load, compression and sensitivity and to reduce ‘postural fear’. This is done with the evidence of a clinical history and physical examination. More broadly, it is important that clinicians ensure the language used promotes movement and reduces fear or fixed beliefs about posture and its role in spinal pain. Overall posture is a complex interaction of multiple factors, and a broad-brush approach of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ is not applicable. Key points To enhance the benefits further, try meditating (with or without an app like Smiling Minds) while on the posture pole. This activity is best done just before you go to bed, to undo the day’s pressures of gravity and stress, and to prepare you for better sleep – you’ll notice the difference. Patient history and beliefs and clinical examination are important for considering patient-specific contexts before giving advice.

Most walkers use their poles inefficiently, bending their arms at the elbow and placing the pole tip slightly in front to use the pole as support. A more effective way is to keep your arm in a fairly neutral position (which is with a very slight bend) and use the shoulders to propel yourself forwards. There is no definitive right or wrong way to use walking poles but there are ways that can help you use them more effectively. A Mud Basket – Found at the end of the pole, these circular rubber additions are designed to spread your body weight and prevent your pole from sinking into soft ground.Glove handle/strap – This means when you release the pole using the Nordic walking swing technique you’re still able to maintain control of the pole.