Postural exercises are a beneficial anti-aging tool because helps the body to optimally maintain healthy bones, muslces, ligaments, joints as well as the brain. Maintaining good posture is also important because research has shown a direct correlation between increase loss of height with increase morbidity rate in elderly subjects due to less ability for the lung fields to take in necessary oxygen.
Balance is also a very important benefit of postural exercises as research has showed that elderly who cannot perform a one leg stance for more than 5 seconds has a much higher chance of falling within the next six months.
Motion is also important as our bodies are meant to be in motion. Not only is it good cardiovascularly keep the body in motion but it also helps with joint stiffness.
Posture is currently more important than ever due to our overall increase life expectancy. As a result degenerative changes play even greater role in our lives today. Secondary there is also increase expectation of being more active during our elderly age.
Posture exercises are a great way to counteract these changes. However, in order to achieve desired results one must actively perform necessary exercises in balance, alignment and motion. The body will always revert back to the direction of least resistance. Just as folds in the fiber of a piece of paper, muscles will also always revert back to their existing fold whether it be symmetrical or not. It is important to retrain (refold) our muscle to the correct postural position to achieve optimal posture for our body type.
Dr. Austin Hsu, DC
