Posture Assessment: Understanding Its Importance for Long-Term Health

Massage and physical therapists may order postural assessments for clients who could have possible long term problems. The real issue may be difficult to diagnose on the surface and evaluating a client's posture is a first step in diagnosis.

Procedure

• A posture assessment examines the patient's body alignment while standing, tests for muscle length, flexibility, strength and tests palpitation techniques. Therapists use a weighted string called a plumb line to evaluate how close the client is to straight, ideal posture.

Benefits

• Postural assessment gives therapists an opportunity to correct postural misalignment. A good posture helps maximize muscle and joint function, which optimizes athletic performance.

Warning

• Clients and therapists may allow long term pain to continue by not looking at postural dysfunction as a possible cause of pain. Postural dysfunction will continue to cause a client pain if not assessed. Posture can become misaligned due to psycho-social issues, previous injury or faulty biomechanics.