[#13] Poor posture is not just about muscles—who is the culprit?

Thank you for your continued support.
I am personal trainer Yasuya Sumi.

Did you know that posture cannot be improved by muscle training alone? Do you think that if you strengthen your back muscles, your posture will improve?
In reality, that alone rarely leads to a fundamental improvement in posture.

The essence of posture lies not in muscles, but in the function of nerves and senses.
This time, to understand posture improvement more fundamentally, we will consider it from a functional and neurological perspective.

I often hear from clients:
"Even if I go to a chiropractor, it goes back to how it was immediately."
"My stiff shoulders and lower back pain have become chronic."

In these cases, it is not just a matter of muscle strength or flexibility, but a disturbance in
postural control that is involved.

While attention is often focused on muscle strength and flexibility for good posture, nowadays the integrated function of nerves, senses, and movement is considered important.

Definition of postural control

This mechanism is established through the coordination of:
・Central nervous system
・Sensory input
・Muscle output

In other words, posture is not a static shape, but a "dynamic control" that is constantly changing.

The "sensory input" that determines the quality of posture. The foundation that supports posture is not muscles, but the quality of sensory information, which plays a major role.

The following three are mainly involved.

・Vision (information from the eyes)
・Vestibular sensation (balance function in the inner ear)
・Somatosensation (sensation of muscles and joints)

The brain integrates this information and elicits optimal muscle activity to maintain posture.

Reasons why posture collapses during desk work

In the desk work environment common to modern people:
・Head movement decreases
・The same posture continues
・Lack of physical activity

Due to factors such as these, the quality of sensory input decreases.

For example:
・Decrease in vestibular input → Decrease in head position control
・Decrease in muscle spindle sensitivity → Decrease in postural adjustment function

As a result,
・Head protruding forward
・Rounded back
・Excessive tension in the neck and shoulders
—these inefficient postures become ingrained.

The essential approach to posture improvement

To improve posture,
it is not just about muscle training,
but rather re-educating sensory input and re-learning motor control.

Specifically,
・Physical assessment (posture, range of motion, balance)
・Training to enhance sensory awareness
・Gradual implementation of individually optimized exercise programs.

Summary

What is important in posture improvement is not "being conscious of good posture," but creating a state where you can maintain correct posture even unconsciously. For that, an integrated approach involving nerves, senses, and movement is essential.
I will continue to approach this from various directions.

Thank you for your continued support.