The Power of Postural Photos

Think of the last time someone took a photo of you. Even if you consider yourself to be an awkward model, chances are good that you intuitively struck some sort of a pose. In our social media-based culture, most of us have learned how to arrange ourselves to look our best when the cameras are flashing. We know which angles are most flattering, whether to tilt our chin up or down, how to accentuate our cheekbones or jawline. You don’t need to be a genius at selfies to make an effort to highlight your best assets while concealing your less favored features. It’s what we do to present ourselves well.

Most of us apply this same technique to concealing our postural imbalances. We position ourselves in the best possible light, masking immobility or poor alignment with compensations that distract from or hide the misplacement of our bodies. These compensations are even less conscious than the kind of camera angle maneuvering any healthy person might practice. The only difference is that unless you are a serial selfie photographer, presenting yourself for a photo is harmless to your health, whereas attempting to work around postural imbalances can lead to more imbalances and chronic pain.

For example, a person might recognize that sitting at a desk for decades has taken its toll on her shoulders, which appear forward and rounded. She has real difficulty in placing her shoulder blades on her back ribs where they belong. She recognizes this is an unflattering or uncomfortable posture, so she makes an effort to “stand up straight”. She may not realize that her shoulders and back muscles are deconditioned, so “standing up straight” translates as tilting her chin up, thrusting her ribs forward, tilting her pelvis forward, hyperextending her knees, and standing with a wider stance because all of those compensations make it harder to balance.

The effect is a puffed up military stance, a bit like Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men. This might appear to the untrained eye as “good posture,” but it is in fact loaded with problems. This compensatory way of standing is a partner to poor biomechanics or dysfunctional movement patterns. The two combined are a direct route to injury or pain.

When a therapist at BodyFix Method™ meets a new client, one of the first things we do is take standing postural photos. I often refer to them as mug shots, and it’s one of the most illuminating aspects of our diagnosis and assessment process. From the harsh lens of a regular old digital camera, every misalignment is revealed. There are no filters or glamorous lighting, and the process is quite simple. A client stands against the backdrop of a plain white wall, barefoot and wearing a pair of shorts and a tank top. We take four full body photos: front, back, right profile, and left profile. As a one time client, I can guarantee that you can’t help but stand up a little straighter when you know that someone is evaluating your posture, but the camera sees all. Misalignments and compensations are impossible to conceal in these photos. They are both humbling and highly educational. They reveal to the therapist and the client the root of the client’s pain. A hip hike, a rotated pelvis or ribs, anterior or posterior pelvic tilt, tibial (shin) torsion, rotated knees, everted or turned-out feet, and a forward head position are just a few of the most common postural conditions that are easily revealed by postural photos. Even a client who appears to “stand up straight” in person (or in a more glamorous photo setting) becomes very aware of the visual effect of these imbalances once they see their postural photos. More importantly, they are given the information necessary to make the connections between their posture and their chronic pain or injuries. They learn how they and their therapist can work together to restore their alignment and biomechanical function.

If you suspect that your posture or biomechanics might be contributing to your pain or discomfort, then come to BodyFix Method™ for an evaluation. It’s only 45 minutes out of your day, but it’s worth its weight in gold. We can assess your posture and your movement and get you on track to feeling great. Still uncertain about what to expect? Get some further details here.