A Simple Guide to Posture Disorders, Diagnosis, Treatment and Related Conditions

By Kenneth Kee

This book describes Posture Disorders, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases which is seen in some of my patients in my Family Clinic

Last week I was resting on a deckchair on a cruise ship observing the posture of the people walking past me and those seated in the deck chairs around me.

The most common posture is the Slouch or Forward Head Posture when the person is walking or sitting.

The postures in some persons also acted as a defensive barrier against another person.

Posture disorders refer to abnormalities in the alignment of the body that can lead to discomfort, pain, and other health issues.

Forward Head Posture (FHP)

The head is positioned forward of the body's midline, placing strain on the neck and upper back.
Prolonged use of electronic devices, poor ergonomic setups, weak neck muscles.
Neck pain, shoulder tension, headaches, rounded shoulders.

Kyphosis

Excessive outward curvature of the thoracic spine, resulting in a rounded upper back.
Poor posture, degenerative diseases (e.g., osteoporosis), congenital malformations, Scheuermann's disease.
Rounded shoulders, back pain, stiffness, in severe cases, breathing difficulties.

Lordosis

Excessive inward curvature of the lumbar spine, often referred to as swayback.
Obesity, pregnancy, weak core muscles, spondylolisthesis, certain hip disorders.
Pronounced curve in the lower back, back pain, discomfort during movement.

Scoliosis

Lateral curvature of the spine, forming an S- or C-shaped curve.
Idiopathic (unknown cause), congenital spinal deformities, neuromuscular conditions (e.g., cerebral palsy).
Uneven shoulders or hips, one shoulder blade more prominent, back pain, asymmetrical waist.

Flat Back Syndrome

A condition where the natural lumbar curve is lost, leading to a flat lower back.
Degenerative disc disease, spinal surgery, poor posture.
Difficulty standing upright, back and leg pain, fatigue.

Swayback

The pelvis is tilted forward, causing an exaggerated curve in the lower back and a backward lean in the upper body.
Weak core muscles, prolonged sitting, poor posture habits.
Lower back pain, pronounced buttocks, protruding abdomen.

Rounded Shoulders

The shoulders are positioned forward of the body's midline.
Muscle imbalances, prolonged sitting, poor posture habits.
Shoulder and upper back pain, restricted shoulder movement.

Prevention and Management

Ensuring proper setup of workspaces, including desks, chairs, and computer screens, to promote good posture.

Strengthening core and back muscles, maintaining flexibility, and incorporating posture-correcting exercises.

Learning and maintaining good posture habits, possibly with the help of physical therapy or posture training devices.

Maintaining a healthy weight, ensuring adequate calcium and vitamin D intake to support bone health, and avoiding prolonged periods of sitting or standing.

In cases of severe posture disorders, seeking medical advice for possible treatments such as bracing or surgery.

Posture disorders can significantly impact a person's quality of life, but with proper management and early intervention, many of the associated symptoms and complications can be relieved.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Posture Disorders
Chapter 2 Cause
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Slouching Posture
Chapter 8 Kyphosis
Epilogue

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Kee
• Release date: May 29, 2024
• ISBN: 9798215140628

Kenneth Kee

Medical doctor since 1972. Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009. Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993. Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 70. However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com. His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com This autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com. From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks. He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books. He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures. Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple. For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients. The later books go into more details of medical disorders. He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter. The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks. He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke. His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre. The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall. He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) starting with the Apple computer and going to PC. The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core. The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive. He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance. His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner. The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned. This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale. Dr Kee is the author of: "A Family Doctor's Tale" "Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine" "Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

Book preview

A

Simple

Guide

To

Posture Disorders,

Diagnosis,

Treatment

And

Related Conditions

By

Dr Kenneth Kee

M.B., B.S. (Singapore)

Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

Copyright Kenneth Kee 2024 Smashwords Edition

Published by Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

Dedication

This book is dedicated

To my wife Dorothy

And my children

Carolyn, Grace

And Kelvin

This book describes Posture Disorders, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases which is seen in some of my patients in my Family Clinic.

(What You Need to Treat Posture Disorders)

This e-Book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Introduction

I have been writing medical articles for my blog: http://kennethkee.blogspot.com (A Simple Guide to Medical Disorder) for the benefit of my patients since 2007.

My purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of my patients.

Health Education was also my dissertation for my Ph.D (Healthcare Administration).

I then wrote an autobiography account of my journey as a medical student to family doctor on my other blog: http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com.

This autobiography account A Family Doctor’s Tale was combined with my early A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders into a new Wordpress Blog A Family Doctor’s Tale on http://kenkee481.wordpress.com.

From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 800 eBooks.

Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.

For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.

The later books go into more details of medical disorders.

The first chapter is always from my earlier blogs which unfortunately tends to have typos and spelling mistakes.

Since 2013, I have tried to improve my spelling and writing.

As I tried to bring the patient the latest information about a disorder or illness by reading the latest journals both online and offline, I find that I am learning more and improving on my own medical knowledge in diagnosis and treatment for my patients.

My diagnosis and treatment capability has improved tremendously from my continued education.

Just by writing all these simple guides I find that I have learned a lot from your reviews (good or bad), criticism and advice.

I am sorry for the repetitions in these simple guides as the second chapters onwards have new information as compared to my first chapter taken from my blog.

I also find repetition definitely help me and maybe some readers to remember the facts in the books more easily.

I apologize if these repetitions are irritating to some readers.

Chapter 1

Postural Disorders

What is the Posture?

The Posture is the position in which a person holds his or her body while standing, sitting, driving a car or lying down.

Good posture is important to the health.

People with good posture typically have more confidence and physical stability to go about their daily work.

Importance of good posture:

Good posture allows the best movement of force through the body so the musculoskeletal system can function properly and protect against injury and deterioration.

If the spine is not held upright, the internal organs are crowded into less space which can reduce their effectiveness.

Good posture is the proper alignment of body parts which is supported by the right amount of muscle tension against gravity

A good posture allows the person to breathe better, and as a result decreases fatigue and minimizes other side-effects linked with bad posture.

Correct posture refers to the way that the person holds the position and body.

The correct posture keeps the muscles, ligaments, bones and internal organs in their natural position.

A good posture is also important to bones of the neck shoulder and back.

There is the decrease in wear and tear of joints, relief of stress, and improvement of health and enhancement of the appearance.

Good posture can also improve self-esteem.

People who adopt good posture not only show greater confidence but have a stronger belief in their own abilities than those with poor posture.

A good posture is also essential for breathing and spine strength.

Posture:

Posture refers to the alignment and positioning of the body's various parts in relation to one another and to the surrounding environment.

Good posture involves the proper alignment of the spine, limbs, and muscles, allowing for optimal balance and function.

Maintaining good posture is essential for overall health and can help prevent musculoskeletal problems.

Mechanism of Good Posture:

Good posture involves the proper alignment of the body's various components, with the spine playing a central role.

The spine has natural curves that allocate properly the body's weight and absorb the spinal shock during movement.

The key components of good posture are:

Neutral Spine:

The spine should maintain its natural curves, including the cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back), and lumbar (lower back) regions.

Balanced Body Alignment:

The body should be aligned so that the head, shoulders, hips, and feet are in proper relationship to each other.

This alignment helps distribute weight evenly and reduces stress on the joints.

Engaged Core Muscles:

Strong core muscles, including the abdominal and back muscles, help support the spine and contribute to good posture.

Relaxed Shoulders:

Shoulders should be down and back, not hunched forward, to reduce strain on the neck and upper back.

Straight Neck:

The neck should be in a neutral position, neither excessively bent forward nor tilted backward.

Balanced Weight Distribution:

Whether standing or sitting, weight should be distributed evenly between both feet and both sitting bones.

Bad Posture:

Poor posture can result from a variety of factors, including muscle imbalances, improper ergonomics, and lifestyle habits.

A habit of bad posture can be developed without thinking about it.

The person may spend a long time leaning over a small screen, slouching in a chair, or carrying a heavy backpack when the person walks.

Or the person may use repetitive motions in the workplace.

After a while, all of these factors can lead to bad posture.

Being overweight or pregnant, or wearing poor quality shoes or high heels, can also lead the person to develop bad posture.

The person may be born with scoliosis (an abnormally curved spine) or one leg shorter than the other, which can affect the posture.

Postural disorders refer to conditions where an individual's posture deviates from the normal alignment, leading to potential health problems.

Types of Posture Disorders:

Forward Head Posture:

The head is positioned forward, out of alignment with the shoulders.

This can lead to neck and upper back pain.

Forward head posture occurs when the head is placed with the ears in front of the vertical mid-line of the body.

When the body is in alignment, the ears and shoulders will be lined up with the vertical mid-line.

Other names for forward head posture are tech neck, text neck, and nerd neck.

It often comes from hunching over a smartphone or computer, or the steering wheel if the person drives a lot.

It can also result from the aging process, as the person loses muscle strength in the upper body.

Hunched or Rounded Shoulders:

Shoulders are rounded forward, causing the upper back to curve.

Swayback:

The pelvis is pushed forward, causing an exaggerated curve in the lower back.

This is often associated with sitting for extended periods.

Swayback, also called lordosis or hyperlordosis, is when the hips and pelvis tilt forward, in front of the body’s mid-line.

In this position, the lower back has an exaggerated inward curve.

The person looks like the person is leaning back when the person is standing up, with the stomach and the rear sticking out.

The person can develop swayback if the person sit a lot, which tightens the muscles in the back.

Sitting for prolonged periods can also weaken the abdominal muscles and glutes.

In both cases, the core muscles that stabilize the back become weak.

Other causes may be obesity, injury, neuromuscular conditions, and abnormalities of the spine and vertebrae.

Flat Back:

The natural curves of the spine are reduced or eliminated, resulting in a flattened appearance.

Flatback is a condition where the normal curve of the lower spine loses some of its curvature.

The lower back looks straight and the person stoops forward.

It can be evident at birth, or it can be due to some kinds of back surgery or degenerative conditions of the spine, including ankylosing spondylitis (inflammatory arthritis), disc degeneration, and vertebrae compression.

Kyphosis:

There is excessive rounding of the upper back, creating a hunchback appearance.

Kyphosis indicates an exaggerated curvature of the upper back (the thoracic spine) where the shoulders are rounded forward.

Osteoporosis (bone thinning) can cause the shoulders to round as the spinal bones weaken with age.

It is frequently seen in older women.

Other age-related causes include degeneration of the spinal disks or vertebrae.

Young persons may acquire kyphosis as a effect of diseases such as polio or Scheuermann’s disease, infection, or chemotherapy or radiation to treat cancer.

Lordosis:

There is excessive inward curvature of the lower back, often associated with a protruding abdomen and a swayback appearance.

Uneven Hips or Shoulders:

There is excessive asymmetry in the height or alignment of the hips or shoulders.

Other types of posture

Poking chin

Sitting in a chair that’s too low and leaning forward to see the screen or looking up at a screen that’s placed too high can result in a chin that pokes forward.

Uneven shoulders or hips

The person may tilt to one side when the person stands if one leg is longer than the other.

It may also affect the gait.

Military-style posture

The back is ramrod straight and the chest is thrust forward.

Best type of posture

The optimal or efficient type of posture has the spine in alignment with the head and the limbs.

From the side, it should look like a plumb line from the head would go through the middle of the ears and shoulders and just behind the center of the knee and in front of the center of the ankle.

It is what is meant by the phrase standing up straight.

Physically, proper spinal alignment means that the muscles and bones are in balance, protecting the body against injury or stresses that might cause degeneration of muscles or joints.

It helps the body work more efficiently in keeping the person upright against the force of gravity.

Effects of bad posture

Bad posture can lead to many kinds