Page 88 - The Science of Posture Analysis: Evidence-Based Approaches for Health Professionals
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The  Science  of  Posture  Analysis:  Evidence-Based    App       roaches   for   Health
                Professionals



                                                                 Another intervention that can be

                                                                 effective for postural abnormalities is
                     Evidence-Based
                                                                 manual therapy. This can include
                     Interventions for
                                                                 techniques such as massage, joint
                             Postural
                                                                 mobilization, and myofascial release.
                        Abnormal          ities
                                                                 While the evidence for manual therapy is
                Postural abnormalities can lead to a             somewhat mixed, there is some research
                range of problems, including muscle              to suggest that it can lead to
                imbalances, joint pain, and even                 improvements in posture and reduce

                neurological issues. As such, it is              pain in some cases. For example, a
                important for health professionals to be         study published in the Journal of
                able to identify and treat these issues          Manual and Manipulative Therapy
                effectively. Fortunately, there are a range      found that manual therapy was effective

                of evidence-based interventions that can         for reducing forward head posture in
                help to improve posture and prevent              patients with chronic neck pain.
                these problems.

                                                                 In some cases, posture braces or other
                One of the most effective interventions          external devices may be recommended
                for postural abnormalities is exercise           to help improve posture. These devices
                therapy. This can involve a range of             can provide support and feedback to
                techniques, including stretching,                help patients maintain a more optimal

                strengthening, and balance training. In          posture. While there is limited research
                particular, exercises that target the core       on the effectiveness of these devices,
                and back muscles can be particularly             some studies have found that they can
                effective for improving posture and              lead to improvements in posture and

                reducing pain. A number of studies have          reductions in pain.
                found that exercise therapy can lead to
                signi cant improvements in posture,
                with reductions in forward head posture,

                thoracic kyphosis, and lumbar lordosis.














                The Science of Posture Analysis: Evidence-Based Approaches for Health Professionals
                Page    87
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