1. The document discusses posture analysis and identifies key aspects to evaluate, including the spinal curves, pelvis, shoulders, and lower extremities from the lateral, posterior, and anterior views. 2. Correct posture maintains the natural curves of the spine with minimal joint stress, while poor posture can result from positional habits, muscle imbalances, or underlying medical conditions and lead to increased joint stress. 3. A thorough posture analysis examines the body with reference to plumb lines and assesses for common postural faults in each region, such as rounded shoulders, anterior pelvic tilt, or foot pronation.

1. POSTURE ANALYSIS
PRESENTED BY
MWADZIWANA LOUIS LAW

2. WHAT IS POSTURE ?
• Posture is a position of greatest efficiency, around
your center of gravity, with muscles on all sides,
exerting pull equally.

3. CORRECT POSTURE
Correct posture
“Position in which minimum stress is
each joint.” (Magee)
Maintains the natural curves
placed on
Faulty posture
Any position that increases stress on joints
Create muscle imbalances, ligamentous
tension, circulatory occlusion

4. CAUSES OF POOR POSTURE
• Positional factors/Habitual
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•
Appearance of increased height (social stigma)
Muscle imbalances/contractures
Pain e.g. ICD pleural effusion
Respiratory conditions

5. CAUSES OF POOR POSTURE
• Structural factors
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Congenital anomalies
Developmental problems
Trauma
Disease

6. FACTORS AFFECTING POSTURAL
ANALYSIS
• Subject must be minimally clothed
• The subject must assume a comfortable and
relaxed posture
• Subjects who use orthotic or assistive devices should
be assessed with and without them to determine
their effectiveness in correcting posture.
• relevant medical history and other information

7. THE SPINAL COLUMN
• Primary curves
• Thoracic spine
• Sacrum
• Secondary curves
• Cervical spine
• Lumbar spine

8. LATERAL VIEW
• Head and neck:
• Plumb line: The line
falls through the ear
lobe to the acromion
process.
• Common faults
include:
• Forward head:
• Flattened lordotic
cervical curve
• Excessive Lordotic
curve

9. LATERAL VIEW
Shoulder:
• Plumb line: It falls
through the
acromion process.
• Common faults
include:
• Forward shoulders
• Lumbar Lordosis

10. LATERAL VIEW
• Thoracic vertebrae
• Plumb line: The line
bisects the chest
symmetrically.
• Common faults
• Kyphosis
• Pectus excavatum
(Funnel chest)
• Barrel chest
• Pectus cavinatum
(Pigeon chest)

11. LATERAL VIEW
• Lumbar vertebrae:
• Plumb Line: The line falls
midway between the
abdomen and back
and slightly anterior to
the sacroiliac Joint.
• Common faults
include:
• Lordosis
• Sway back
• Flat back

12. LATERAL VIEW
• Pelvis and hip:
• Plumb Line: The line falls
slightly anterior to the
sacroiliac joint and
posterior to the hip
joint, through the greater
trochanter, creating an
extension moment.
• Common faults include:
• Anterior pelvic tilt
• Posterior pelvic tilt

13. LATERAL VIEW
• Knee:
• Plumb line: The line
passes slightly anterior
to the midline of the
knee, creating an
extension moment.
• Common faults
include:
• Genu recurvatum
• Flexed knee

14. LATERAL VIEW
• Ankle:
• Plumb line: The line
lies slightly anterior to
the lateral
malleolus, aligned
with tuberosity of 5th
metatarsal.
• Common faults
include:
• Forward posture:

15. POSTERIOR VIEW
• Head and neck:
• Plumb line: The midline bisects the head through the
external occipital protuberance; head is usually
positioned squarely over the shoulders so that eyes
remain level.
• Common faults include:
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•
•
•
•
Head tilt
Head rotated
Adducted scapulae
Abducted scapulae
Winging of the scapulae:

16. POSTERIOR VIEW
• Trunk
• Plumb Line: The line bisects the spinous process of
the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.
• Common faults include:
• Lateral deviation (Scoliosis)

17. POSTERIOR VIEW
• Pelvis and Hip:
• Plumb line: The line bisects the gluteal cleft and the
posterior superior iliac spines are on the same
horizontal plane; the iliac crests, gluteal folds and
greater trochanters are level.
• Common faults include:
• Lateral pelvic tilt
• Pelvic rotation
• Abducted hip

18. POSTERIOR VIEW
• Knee
• Plumb Line: The plumb line lies, equidistant between
the knees.
• Common faults include:
• Genu varum
• Genu Valgum

19. POSTERIOR VIEW
• Ankle and Foot
• Plumb line: The line is equidistant from the
malleoli, a line (Feiss’) is drawn from the medial
malleolus to the first metatarsal bone and the
tuberosity of the navicular bone lies on the line.
• Common faults include:
• Pes planus (Pronated)
• Pes Cavus (supinated)

20. ANTERIOR VIEW
• Head and Neck:
• Plumb Line: The line bisects the head at the midline into
equal halves.
Common faults include:
• Lateral Tilt
• Rotation
• Mandibular asymmetry

21. ANTERIOR VIEW
• Shoulders:
• Plumb Line: A vertical line bisects the sternum and
xiphoid process.
• It may be due to:
• Dropped or elevated shoulder
• Clavicle and joint asymmetry

22. ANTERIOR VIEW
• Elbows:
• Common faults include:
• Cubitus valgus: The forearm deviates laterally from the arm
at angle greater than 15° (female) and 10° (male). It may
be due to:
• Elbow hyperextension.
• Distal displacement of trochlea in relation to capitulum of
humerus.
• Stretched ulnar collateral ligament.
• Cubitus varus

23. ANTERIOR VIEW
• Hip
• Plumb line: Common faults include:
• Lateral rotation
• Medial rotation

24. ANTERIOR VIEW
• Knee:
• Plumb Line: The legs are equidistant from a vertical
line through the body.
• Common Faults include:
• External tibial torsion
• Internal tibial torsion

25. ANTERIOR VIEW
• Ankle and Foot:
• Plumb line: Common Faults include:
• Hallux valgus:
• Hammer toes

26. LATERAL VIEW

27. POSTERIOR VIEW

28. ANTERIOR VIEW

29. REFERENCES
• Lynn S. Lippert, Clinical Kinesiology and Anatomy
2006
• Chaplin, Lori, MS, Maloney, Ryan “Picture Perfect
Posture” IDEA Personal Trainer, Sept 2002

30. •THANK YOU