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Exercise
& Fitness
Good day! Let's discuss:
Little Known Facts!
Common Postural Deficiencies
Standing Postural Muscles
The
diagram to the right illustrates how the body is held erect. The thick black
lines represent the principal muscles involved in standing. The vertical
dotted line indicates the center of gravity. Note this line falls behind the
axis of rotation of the hip and in front of the knee. This renders the
ligaments of the joints tense, which are represented by dotted lines passing
in front of the hip (ilio-femoral) and behind the knee (posterior ligament).

Lordosis
Pelvis is positioned forward and
downward. Hips are slightly flexed and lumbar spine is excessively
hyperextended. Hip flexors, erector spinae are short. Abdominal, hamstrings,
gluteus maximus muscles may be weak. Increased risk of lower back injury
during standing or lying hip extension, flexion, or stabilization activities,
and weighted overhead activities. See abdominal weakness and hip flexor
inflexibility.
 | Examples of affected exercises:
 | Squat
 | Hack Squat
 | Military Press (standing)
 | Roman Chair Sit-up |
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 | Example preventative / corrective
exercises:
 | Hip Flexor: Kneeling Hip Flexor
Stretch
 | Erector Spinae: Lower Back Stretch
 | Abdominal: Crunches
 | Hamstrings: Leg Curl
 | Gluteus: Seated Leg Press |
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Posterior Pelvic Tilt
Sometimes referred to as flat back,
posterior pelvic tilt involves the reduction of the natural lumbar curvature.
This posture is characterized by the shortening of the hip extensors
(Hamstrings & Gluteus Maximus inflexibility), tight abdominals, and lax
hip flexors. Sitting on the back of the hips may indicate a posterior pelvic
tilt. It is rarely brought about by lack of muscular strength. The posterior
pelvic tilt is less common as the anterior tilt as seen with lordosis.
 | Examples of affected exercises:
 | Leg Press
 | Squat
 | Straight Leg Deadlift |
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 | Example preventative / corrective
exercises:
 | Hip Flexor: Lever Hip Flexion
 | Hamstrings: Lying Hamstring Stretch
 | Gluteus: Seated Glute Stretch
 | Abdominal: Abdominal Stretch |
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Kyphosis
Exaggerated anterior-posterior curvature
of the vertebral column, most often involves an excessive forward bending in
the thoracic area. Kyphosis occurs in older adults, particularly women with
osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Kyphosis is sometime accompanied with other
posterior problems such as posterior or anterior pelvic tilt (compensates for
altered line of gravity) and protracted shoulder girdle (unrelated). Kyphosis
makes it difficult to include overhead exercises particularly when combined
with a winged scapula condition or shoulder external rotation inflexibility.

Forward Head Posture
An anterior positioning of the cervical
spine is characteristic of forward head posture, or protracted neck. Forward
head posture may may make it more difficult to perform exercises with the bar
in front of head or neck. Evaluate neck position at night since elevating head
too high with additional pillows may act as a continuous neck stretch
throughout the evening exacerbating the forward head posture.
 | Examples of affected exercises:
 | Shoulder Press |
 | Corrective exercises for gravity induced
kyphosis:
 | Strengthening of cervical vertebral
column extensors
 | Isometric Neck Retraction |
 | Stretching of cervical vertebral
column flexors
 | Neck Retraction |
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Winged Scapula
Medial border or inferior angle of
scapula protrude slightly from body. A winged scapula condition may be
accompanied by a protracted shoulder girdle. Risk of shoulder injury is
compounded with a supraspinatus weakness or an external shoulder rotation
inflexibility. Because of the forward tilt of the scapula, complete flexion or
external rotation of the shoulder may be seemingly restricted. A winged
scapula condition indicates a serratus anterior weakness. The rhomboids may be
weak and the pectoralis minor may be short. A winged scapula is considered
normal posture in young children, but not older children and adults.
 | Examples of affected exercises:
 | Shoulder Press
 | Pullovers
 | Pull-downs |
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 | Example preventative / corrective
exercises:
 | Incline Shoulder Raise
 | Cable Row
 | Pectoralis Minor Stretch
 | Wall Lat. Stretch |
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Protracted Shoulder Girdle
The shoulders are pulled forward. Medial
border of the scapula may also protrude slightly from body. Increased risk of
shoulder injury during shoulder transverse flexion and transverse adduction
activities, specifically when elbow travels behind shoulder. Risk of shoulder
injury is compounded with a infraspinatus weakness. Possible limited range of
motion during retraction of the shoulder girdle. A protracted shoulder girdle
may be accompanied by a winged scapula condition or transverse adduction /
flexion inflexibility. The subscapularis and Pectoralis minor and clavicular
& sternal heads of the pectoralis major muscles may be short. The
trapezius (middle fibers) and particularly the rhomboids may be weak if the
medial borders of the scapula also protrude slightly from body.
 | Examples of affected exercises:
 | Bench Press
 | Chest Press
 | Flies |
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 | Example preventative / corrective
exercises:
 | Doorway Modified Chest Stretch
 | Wall Shoulder Girdle Stretch
 | Doorway Subscapularis Stretch
 | Cable Row or Lever Row (do not hold
protracted position) |
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Those with this posture deficiency, avoid
stretches that protract the shoulder such as Rear Delt Stretches and holding
protracted position during rowing resistive exercises. If lying on one's side,
position upper arm under head (with or without pillow in between) since lying
on one's side with one's arm down or in front (protracting shoulder girdle)
may act as a continuous stretch throughout the night exacerbating this
condition.
Scoliosis
Mediatorial curve of the vertebral
column.
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Copyright © 1999 Yoga A Way Of Life
Last modified: August 24, 2008
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