Standing Up Straight Might Not Be As Beneficial As We Thought

From a young age we’re told to stand up straight. Many people probably even have memories of walking around the house with a book on their head to help improve their posture (I know I do).

But why is it even important to do this? What exactly does “good posture” mean for you health-wise anyway?

It may be a little aesthetic — we’re taught that models with perfect posture are what we should aim to resemble — and it has some science-backed perks. But, based on the years of posture reminders and even at-school posture checks, there are probably fewer benefits than you thought.

Here, experts weigh in on posture and whether having good posture is truly beneficial for your health or total B.S.

First, what is good posture?

According to Dr. Scott Mallozzi, a spine surgeon at UConn Health, having your head centered above your pelvis and your feet is considered proper posture. Your neck and head shouldn’t be slouching forward or backward ― instead, youshould be up straight with your head, pelvis and feet in alignment.

That said, one posture does not fit all, added Dr. Mark Queralt, medical director at the Musculoskeletal Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. Due to conditions like arthritis of the spine, slumping over feels better for some people ― particularly for older individuals.

“To have that person sit straight and arch their back all day long would be painful,” Queralt said. So, what is good posture for one person may not be possible for another.

Plus, when it comes to our bodies, age-related change is part of life, Queralt explained. It’s natural for your spine to evolve and require different postures throughout your life.

“What would you think your spine is going to look like at 60? Would you expect it to