Discover the Hidden Impact of How You Stand: A Path to Better Health

Are you aware of the power that your everyday stance holds over your overall well-being? It might not be the most exciting topic, but understanding the consequences of prolonged standing and how it affects your body can be a game-changer, especially if you have existing issues with your lower back, hips, knees, ankles, or feet.

How you stand is a choice, although it might have been made subconsciously many years ago. This choice could result from an injury, how you carried your children, or simply a habit formed over time where you found a comfortable position that required minimal muscular effort.

Let's delve into the concept of active standing. Active standing means paying attention to which parts of your body are engaged when you stand in your usual manner. Are you utilising your feet effectively? Is your core engaged? Are you balanced on your heels?

Start by becoming more mindful of how your feet are functioning. Where is your body weight predominantly placed—on your heels or toes? Is the weight evenly distributed between both feet or do you tend to favor one foot due to an issue like a bunion?

To correct any abnormalities in your stance, try shifting your weight forward as if your toes are gently gripping the ground. Imagine you're on a boat, swaying with the movement of the water. When your weight is balanced on your toes, you're in proper alignment. Another aspect to consider is shifting your weight from side to side, aiming for equal distribution on the first toe.

If you're dealing with pain in just one side of your first toe, try holding an arched position with your foot; this can help alleviate discomfort. When our feet function in a reduced arch environment, the first toe can be forced into an unnatural sideways position. It's important to remember that walking and standing involve a subtle rotation through our feet. Changes in weight distribution affect where this rotation occurs, which can explain why reduced arches may lead to hip, knee, and lower back pain.

Some individuals, particularly those recovering from significant injuries, need to relearn how to walk. To the uninjured person, this might sound strange, but it's true. After an injury, you must rediscover where your body weight needs to be distributed and how it shifts from one leg to another.

Injuries come in many forms; the more subtle ones often involve microtrauma. These tiny faults, repeated over countless steps, can add to significant problems. Standing incorrectly places an unnatural force on our musculoskeletal system, known as shear force. Our bodies aren't designed to handle this force effectively.

One typical example of shear force is carrying small children on one hip while freeing up the other hand for multitasking. Even as our children grow and no longer require carrying, we may continue to stand in this learned manner. The persistence of this asymmetry can lead to future injuries and poor outcomes. With a stable foundation, you can improve your long-term function.

Recognising your standing posture (and, by extension, your sitting and walking postures) is a crucial step in effectively treating and preventing long-term injuries. So, take a moment to reflect on how you stand, and you might find a path to better health and well-being. Your body will thank you for it!