"Sit Up Straight": Time to Re-evaluate

Abstract

Posture is a frequent topic of discussion for patients, clinicians, the media, and society. A common belief is that spinal pain is caused by sitting, standing, or bending "incorrectly." Despite the absence of strong evidence to support these common beliefs, a large posture industry has flourished, with many interventions and products claiming to "correct" posture and prevent pain. Unfortunately, many health care professionals provide advice in line with this non-evidence-based perspective. In this Viewpoint, the authors reflect on common beliefs regarding posture and spinal health and why they are so widely held, and consider how clinicians can positively influence these beliefs. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2019;49(8):562-564. doi:10.2519/jospt.2019.0610.

Keywords: evidence-based practice; posture.