Posturology and
Postural Recalibration

About Postural Recalibration

Good posture relieves pain, improves movement and makes you look and feel younger. We use DNS, Anatomy in Motion, gait analysis, myofascial release and other techniques to realign your joints and balance your muscles for optimal pain-free movement. Contact us today for a posture consultation.

Most of us learn about posture at an early age, when a parent or teacher constantly reminds us to “sit up straight” or “don’t slouch.” In many cases, they were interpreting your sloppy posture as a negative mental attitude more than a health risk. But the truth is, posture is essential to your health on many levels, whether you realize it or not.

Posturology

is an emerging field in physical therapy that zeros in on human posture, its underlying mechanisms and how to optimize it.

Postural recalibration

is a therapeutic methodology for realigning your posture, for ease of movement and optimal health.

What is “Good” Posture?

Posture can be defined as the awareness of your body’s position in space relative to gravity. It involves equilibrium detected in your inner ear, along with feedback from sensory organs in your muscles and joints. It is estimated that fewer than 10% of the human population has optimal posture. Most people have postural anomalies that contribute to faulty movement mechanics, reduced motor efficiency and pain.

«Good» posture

The Posture Committee of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons defines “good” posture as a state of musculoskeletal balance that “protects the body from injury and progressive deformity.” People with good posture move with greater efficiency, and their vital organs in the pelvic and thoracic regions are optimally positioned to function without impairment.

«Poor» posture

Conversely, “poor” posture is caused by imbalances in the body’s interrelated structures, reducing efficiency of movement and causing wear and tear on bones, joints, nerves, muscles and connective tissues. If you have poor posture, you may have difficulty balancing your body over your base of support, increasing your risk of musculoskeletal pain and injury.

How Your Body Interprets Posture

Whether you are lying down, sitting, standing or moving, your body position is subject to the force of gravity. Consciously or subconsciously, your brain is continually responding to feedback from your body, and adjusting your posture to maintain or restore equilibrium. Sensory systems throughout your body continually report to your brain via your sensory neural pathways about your posture, and your brain responds by adjusting your muscle tension to protect you from harm.

Spatial awareness and equilibrium are governed by key sensory receptors in the following areas:

Inner ear

The vestibular system is the sensory apparatus of your inner ear that helps you maintain postural equilibrium. When equilibrium is disrupted, your vestibular system plays an important role in restoring it.

Feet

Your feet serve as both exteroceptors, receiving external sensory stimuli via the sole of the foot, and as proprioceptors, providing sensory information from your muscles, tendons and joints. Uneven weight distribution on your feet affects the alignment of your entire body.

Eyes

Your eye muscles work constantly to scan your surroundings or focus on a fixed point. Visual sensory information plays a critical role in posture. Insufficient convergence of the eye muscles or asymmetry between the right and left eyes can create tension and reduce range of motion in the cervical spine, adversely affecting posture.

TMJ

Your temporomandibular joint connects your jawbone to your skull and acts as a sliding hinge. When your TMJ is out of alignment, it can affect the alignment of your entire spine, causing headaches, neck pain and even low back pain.

Posturology uses feedback from those systems to fine tune and recalibrate your posture.

Health Effects of Poor Posture

Postural deficits due to injuries or bad habits can cause your brain to compensate by shifting force loads to other areas of your body. Over time, compensation patterns become habitual unless they are identified and corrected. Compensation patterns can cause serious injuries during sports or everyday movements.

Sedentary lifestyles Effects

Sedentary lifestyles in the 21st Century are at the root of many postural issues that lead to pain and disability. Excessive sitting, weakened core muscles and use of electronic devices all contribute to poor posture, causing pain and dysfunction. Postural recalibration looks beyond pain symptoms to realign your body and restore function, thus alleviating pain.

How Posture Affects Movement

You may think of posture as relevant in static positions like sitting or standing, but all movement is made up of a series of different postures. When your standing posture is optimal, your posture during movement is more efficient and demands less energy, placing less stress on your body’s structures. Soldiers in the military are taught perfect posture, to conserve energy and optimize physical readiness.

The Role Of Posturology

Posturology focuses on recalibrating your standing posture to optimize movement and preserve a healthy musculoskeletal system. Postural recalibration eliminates pain, reduces muscle tension, restores optimal muscle tone and provides balance throughout the kinetic chain.

Lev Kalika Clinical Director and DC, RMSK

Dr.Kalika revolutionized foot and ankle care by using high resolution diagnostic ultrasonography for structural diagnosis, combined with with gait and motion analysis technology. Dr.Kalika’s motion and gait analysis lab is the only private lab in the US that features research-grade technology found only at top research universities, made available to patients in his private clinic.

Our Specialists

Dr. Mikhail Bernshteyn MD (Internist)

Dr. Michael Goynatsky DPT

Dr. Daniela Escudero DPT

Dr. Michelle Agyakwah DC

Dr. Tatyana Kapustina L. Ac.

Posture Recalibration at NYDNRehab

Posturology addresses the causes, not the symptoms of your problem, and restores a harmonious relationship between your body’s anatomical structures. It provides both immediate and lasting results.

During assessment, your therapist will gather information about your daily activities and physical activity level. They will assess your vestibular function and examine your eyes and TMJ. Your standing weight distribution will be assess using force plate technology, followed by a 3D gait analysis to identify motor dysfunction and compensation patterns.

Once assessment data has been analyzed, an individualized treatment protocol will be created to recalibrate your posture and restore pain-free movement.

Resources

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Posture and its relationship to orthopaedic disabilities. A report of the posture committee. 1947. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons; Evanston, Illinois.
Carini, Francesco, et al. “Posture and posturology, anatomical and physiological profiles: overview and current state of art.” Acta bio-medica: Atenei Parmensis 88.1 (2017): 11.
Collins, Cristiana Kahl, et al. “The reliability and validity of the Saliba Postural Classification System.” Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy 24.3 (2016): 174-181.

Research at NYDNRehab

Conference: the 12th World Congress of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM 2018)At: Paris, France https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326295102_MULTILEVEL_EVALUATION_OF_MOTION_AND_POSTURE_PATTERNS_IN_LOWER_EXTREMITY_AND_SPINE_USING_DYNAMIC_ULTRASOUND

Multilevel evaluation of motion and posture patterns in lower extremity and spine using dynamic ultrasound https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326395779_Multilevel_evaluation_of_motion_and_posture_patterns_in_lower_extremity_and_spine_using_dynamic_ultrasound

Probiotics and aerobic physical activity improve symptoms of MetS, muscle and nerves structure and posture in overweight patients https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341574955_Probiotics_and_aerobic_physical_activity_improve_symptoms_of_MetS_muscle_and_nerves_structure_and_posture_in_overweight_patients

PRECISE DRY NEEDLING OF TRIGGER POINTS IN NECK, SHOULDER AND PTERYGOID MUSCLES IS EFFECTIVE TO TREAT MIGRAINE AND HEADACHE AND RESTORE POSTURE https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344808393_PRECISE_DRY_NEEDLING_OF_TRIGGER_POINTS_IN_NECK_SHOULDER_AND_PTERYGOID_MUSCLES_IS_EFFECTIVE_TO_TREAT_MIGRAINE_AND_HEADACHE_AND_RESTORE_POSTURE

Probiotic treatment and aerobic physical activity effects on visceral fat and posture in overweight patients with asthma https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337486626_Probiotic_treatment_and_aerobic_physical_activity_effects_on_visceral_fat_and_posture_in_overweight_patients_with_asthma

Whole-Body Neuromuscular Ultrasound for Evaluating Posture and Targeted Management of Muscle Spasticity and Pain https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336134647_Whole-Body_Neuromuscular_Ultrasound_for_Evaluating_Posture_and_Targeted_Management_of_Muscle_Spasticity_and_Pain

Posturology and Postural Recalibration