Proper Posture & Body Mechanics

Educating a client on proper posture and body mechanics is vital for decreasing the risk of back injury. However, 80% of the adult population will experience low back pain at some point in their life. Back pain and injury is mainly the result from poor posture and body mechanics, but can also be caused by stressful living and work habits, loss of flexibility, aging, lack of physical fitness, or family history and genes. Back injuries can be very costly and can lead to weeks or even months of recovery away from work. Your muscles work best when used correctly and using proper body mechanics makes lifting, pushing and pulling much easier. 

For a client with poor posture and body mechanics, it is imperative to educate them on correct techniques so that they can correct their posture and movements before it leads to serious injury. Thankfully, there are several different ways to incorporate this into an intervention. An OT can demonstrate and teach the client how to properly pick up a heavy item from the floor, which will limit the stress placed on the back. If the client needs to pick up lighter things from the floor, the OT can teach them the golfer’s lift. Additionally, many individuals practice poor posture when sitting. An OT can teach correct posture, as well as the “slouch-overcorrect” technique that the client can practice daily in his or her work or home environment.