Somewhere, something went wrong
I never get bored with this image because as they say ‘a picture paints a thousand words’. What I want you to focus on in particular is the faulty posture of the head, neck and shoulders. Always remember that this image is also showing a series of highly functional movement patterns and postures. I’m not here to advocate only ever having a fully erect, neutral spine, 24/7. The spine is designed for a series of directional movements such as flexion, extension, lateral bending and rotation. However, most important is HOW LONG you are training your posture to be away from neutral position. Always remember it’s the DOSE THAT MAKES THE POISON – even too much water, sleep and exercise becomes negative to the body.

What is Your Daily Postural Investment (DPI)
If you are investing several hours a day behind an office desk then you are teaching your muscles and skeletal system to adapt to a sitting position for that many hours. From my point of view this is dedicated time in which you can pay close attention to your posture and stretching strategies to make the most of the situation. Otherwise there is a greater possibility of matching our friend in the above image sat at his computer (hopefully you are wearing clothing!). Most important is to ensure you allocate some time in your day to help counteract the typical curved posture that feels most comfortable when seated for prolonged periods. Simple strategies, in order of priority, can include:
1. Posture awareness whilst seated
2. One-to-three minute focused stretching
3. Frequent ‘movement’ breaks away from your desk
4. Taking dedicated time (20-minutes) every 3-days to strengthen the muscles that become lengthened and weakened due to a seated posture.