Inquisitive.me

As a physiotherapist, I can tell you something that may sound surprising: your posture is probably not the reason for your pain.

We’ve talked about pain in the last few posts (just swipe back), but it’s still a bold claim. After all, for the past 20–30 years many of us have been told that pain comes from “bad posture.” Entire treatment approaches were built around correcting it.

But here’s the problem: for more than three decades (or even longer) we tried to fix posture—and people are still in pain. In the clinic, I’ve seen people with textbook-perfect posture who suffer from severe back pain.

The human body is an incredibly complex system. Trying to explain pain with a single statement like “your posture is wrong” is simply too reductionist. Even though I tried to simplify some aspects in earlier posts (like here or here), there are still countless nuances involved.

And posture itself? It may look simple, but it isn’t.

Posture is more like a mirror of your life.

As a physio, I do look at posture during examinations. But I only observe it—I don’t judge it. A patient’s posture can tell me many things about their life, yet I would never conclude that posture is the cause of their pain or limitation. At most, it might play a small role.

Your posture reflects your daily activities, the sports you do, whether you sit a lot or move a lot. It reflects genetics, habits, breathing patterns, mood, emotional state, nutrition, and the context you’re currently living in.

In other words, posture is dynamic and deeply personal.

That’s why neither I nor any other physiotherapist can simply look at posture and say, “That’s why you’re in pain.”

In fact, the relationship often works the other way around. Pain frequently changes posture. Think about how you limp when your knee hurts. Your body adapts to protect itself.

The same can happen with your back, neck, or shoulders.

That’s also why I’m not a big fan of the term “bad posture.” The phrase carries a judgement that often goes far beyond what we can actually know. Posture reflects so many aspects of someone’s life—habits, stress levels, emotional state, even how someone feels on that particular day.

Who am I to judge whether those things are “good” or “bad”?

Posture represents a moment in someone’s life. Labeling it doesn’t help.

And changing posture isn’t as simple as “sit up straight” or “train your back more.” I’ve seen incredibly strong people with what others would call “bad posture.” Not because they lacked strength, but because they were going through a difficult time emotionally.

That’s why statements like “I know I have bad posture” or questions like “How can I fix my posture?” often miss the point.

Changing your posture won’t fix your life. If anything, the process works in the opposite direction.

Improve your habits. Move more. Explore different movement patterns. Take care of your mental and emotional wellbeing. Sometimes posture changes naturally when life changes.

Interestingly, posture can still influence how we feel in the moment. Straightening your back or opening your chest can make you feel more confident or optimistic for a while. But that temporary shift doesn’t solve the deeper issue behind it.

And sometimes it doesn’t change at all—because genetics also play a role.

Let me give you a personal example.

Sometimes I get neck pain when I sit at the computer for long periods. And sometimes I don’t. Right now I have a bit of neck pain again, in the exact same spot where I felt it during a very stressful phase a few years ago.

No matter what I try—training, breathing exercises, mobility work, meditation—it doesn’t immediately disappear. It does improve, and with exercises I can manage it well, but it never completely goes away.

It started about two weeks before my current half-marathon preparation. I suspect it has something to do with the worry I had about whether my tendinopathy might limit my training.

The training turned out fine, but that small concern has probably been sitting somewhere in the back of my mind.

I experienced something similar with back pain last year. It lingered throughout my preparation—and then disappeared shortly after the race.

Right now I’m doing what I can to not aggravate it. And if my past experience is any indication, there’s a good chance it will resolve on its own.

🧪 Let’s Experiment

---

Your posture isn’t the enemy—your body simply prefers variety.

Instead of trying to “fix” your posture, let’s explore how your body responds to different positions and movement.

🎯 Try This:

The next time you catch yourself thinking “I should sit up straight”, pause for a moment.

First, gently straighten your back and open your chest. Notice how it feels. Maybe you feel a bit more alert or confident.

Then try the opposite. Let your shoulders drop. Lean forward slightly. Relax into the chair.

Neither position is “wrong.” They simply create different sensations.

Now add the most important part: change positions every few minutes. Shift your weight, stand up, stretch, or walk a few steps.

Your body rarely needs a perfect posture. What it usually needs is movement.

🧠 Final Thought:

Instead of chasing the perfect posture, aim for something better: a body that feels safe moving in many different ways.

---

Keep it simple, stay curious, and keep learning—you’ve got this.

Take care,

Carina 🦊