Body Shaping: How Our Habits, Environment, and Culture Influence Us
While assisting in a class at a nearby Doctor of Physical Therapy program this morning, I was reminded of this fascinating article and NPR broadcast. The article talks about differences observed between our modernized civilization and some indigenous populations. For example, they found a group in rural India that almost never has complaints of back pain. Upon further exploration, they even found that their spines and inter-vertebral discs show less wear and tear. But why would this happen?
Let’s consider a few things.
Image: Visible Body Muscle Premium
A few weeks ago, Back in Step Physical Therapy shared another blog post, Tech(nology) Neck. We discussed how some of our regular, every-day activities, like using our smartphones and tablets, or working at our desk or on our laptops, can start to influence how our body is shaped, and, more importantly, how it functions. Our technology-centric population continues to see a rise in back and neck pain, thumb/wrist/elbow pain, and other complaints that can be related to our postures and activities.
We also seem to be spending more and more time sitting. Sitting during the commute to and from work or school, sitting at a desk, sitting to watch television as we relax for the evening. So imagine that our body, which is designed to have us upright, much like the spine images above, is now being asked to function in a different, seated position. It’s not a stretch to believe that this leads to a change in stresses and demands on our bodies.
Let’s now imagine even another scenario, not related to the technology that we interact with, but cultural differences. In our Western culture, we tend to sit in chairs, on stools, or on sofas. In some Eastern cultures, kneeling, squatting, or sitting cross-legged are more of the norm. Look at the pictures below to get a sense of how each of these positions could make our bodies work. Thinking about it further, how much time you spend sitting in a chair? Now imagine spending that same amount of time in one of these other positions. If you’re not used to these positions, odds are good that it would be quite uncomfortable, but, if it’s a normal position, you may use it when you’re waiting for the bus, eating, or chatting with friends.
Whether it’s our sitting position, the technology that we interact with, or the activities that we do, we are constantly influencing how our bodies move and function. It’s important that we learn more about our bodies, and ensure that they continue to operate as optimally as possible. If you want to focus on injury prevention or injury rehabilitation, or just want to learn more, please contact Back in Step Physical Therapy. We not only offer physical therapy services, but also offer wellness services, annual physical therapy assessments, and educational seminars.
