Look at that posture!

                                                

This is a picture of my dad sitting at our kitchen table working on his computer for work. My dad is sitting with a slight posterior pelvic tilt. His spine has increased thoracic kyphosis, slight cervical flexion, and slight flattening of the lumbar curve. His scapulae are slightly protracted. The right femur is slightly extended and externally rotated. His left femur is slightly extended. His knees are flexed. His right leg is internally rotated so that he can sit on it. This is not an ideal posture for him, but this is how he sits when working on his computer 90% of the time. 

My dad's base of support is large because he has contact with the chair from sitting on it and his arms are resting on the table. In this picture there is more stability than mobility. Because my dad has one foot on the ground and is sitting on the other leg, I do not think it is difficult position to get out of. To get back in a proper seated position he would have to move his leg out from underneath him, so they are both on the floor. His upper extremities are not free because he is using his forearms as support resting on the table. His posture does not support joint alignment causing additional force to be placed on his joints. I think my dad could sit in this position for maybe 30 to 45 minuets before changing positions. He would have to change position due to the pressure being placed on his ischial tuberosities, or from his right leg's nerves compressed from sitting on it. 

Teaching proper posture and body mechanics are important because it helps decrease the risk of injury to your back. If we can start correcting the slouching position now, it can help clients not experience low back pain sooner in life. Another reason proper posture and body mechanics are important is because it promotes proper function of our internal organs. If we have bad posture and body mechanics our movements and posture can compress our spines which causes compression to our organs. If our organs are compressed then it can lead to different and possible severe problems. 

In the future I would use my knowledge of posture and body mechanics to inform my client on the proper way to pick up a heavy object by using your legs instead of your back. If my dad was my client, I would tell him to bring his computer screen at eye level to prevent cervical strain that could cause pain later. 

     

other pictures include: my mom sitting on the couch scrolling on Facebook and my sister putting on her makeup