The modern body is regularly placed into positions that compromise posture and core strength/ The muscular and nervous systems acquiesce to the sub-par positioning over time. As a result, the skeletal system reflexively mal-adapts to the muscular and nervous system conformity. This mal-adaptation can be caught and reversed by consistently monitoring, correctly assessing, and properly addressing the positioning of the body.
The modern body is not so much modern. Indeed, the present day body, as is known, has been in existence for over 200,000 years. The initial uses of the modern body were more physically oriented than is so today. There was gathering. There was dressing of the kill. There was pursuing prey. There was walking from one living location to the next, while hauling along personal effects. These actions all required that energy be expended. In some instances, a lot; in other instances, not so much. Yet, being active was a requisite. The modern body has not changed much over time so for one to be active is probably a good bet.
Work related standing for prolonged periods has been associated, via research, with several potentially serious health outcomes, such as lower back and leg pain, cardiovascular problems, fatigue, discomfort, and pregnancy related health outcomes. Literature review reveals ample evidence of standing related, adverse health outcomes. Review of the literature supports the role of certain interventions as being effective in reducing the hazards associated with prolonged standing. Such interventions include the use of floor mats, sit-stand workstations/chairs, shoes, shoe inserts and hosiery or stockings.
Sitting require less energy than standing; yet, sitting for prolonged periods is associated with a number of health concerns. Obesity and conditions that comprise metabolic syndrome — increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels. Excessive and prolonged periods of sitting are surmised to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. Yet, movement — even leisurely movement — can be profound in counteracting the effects of sitting. Movement can be beneficial by burning more calories, promoting weight loss, increasing energy, maintaining muscle tone, the ability to move, mental well-being, especially as one ages
Standing and sitting are typically accompanied by forward head syndrome. This is due to the necessity of looking down during the completion of a task. Forward head complicates the body by causing muscular imbalances that can lead to neck pain, headaches, poor posture and related structural pains. The areas that are most affected in this situation are the (upper) back, chest and neck muscles. Basically, muscles in front body become tight while muscles in the back body become weak. The abnormality can be addressed by exercising regularly (specifically making back work an important part of any routine) and being aware of and maintaining good posture.
The nervous, muscular and skeletal systems (NMS) can be molded into maintaining any position into which they are regularly placed, thus yielding posture. “It is known that the posture is a set of interactions between muscle-skeletal system with afferent and efferent pathways of the central nervous system and whose main role is to keep your body in a state of muscle-skeletal balance, protecting the supporting structures of the body against injury or progressive deformity.” The nervous system sends impulses to the muscular system. These impulses stimulate muscular actions. Contractions or relaxations which can facilitate optimal posture. The skeletal system, ultimately, adjusts to prescriptions from nervous system input and muscular system response.
The current demands (that are) placed on the body lean more toward stationary positioning. Movement is not required and, as such, is minimal at best. There are physically demanding jobs, they are becoming less common with time. “Although U.S. manufacturing output has actually increased in terms of output, the number of manufacturing jobs has declined dramatically in recent decades. These jobs peaked at 19.4 million in 1979. By 2010, that number was down 11.5 million despite a steep population increase in the ensuing years.” Whatever the job may be, the positioning of the body, even minimally, will affect how the body posture will be exhibited. It is up to each individual to take stock of their own body positioning and make adjustments, accordingly.
Ab-Sutra Wellness and Fitness 