HOW WELL ARE YOUR AGING? Posture and Alignment Assessments

#1 Head Posture

Do your ears align over your shoulders? Have someone take a picture of you from the side while standing relaxed. Looking at this picture, draw an imaginary line from your ear straight down. Where does this line go through, your shoulder and arm or in front of your body? Can you move your head backwards to align your ears directly over your shoulders?

#2 Shoulder Posture

Looking at a mirror, are your shoulders level? Is one shoulder higher than the other?

#3 Shoulder Blade Posture

Do either of your shoulder’s blades “wing” or lift away from your body? Can someone easily fit their finger(s) in between the inside border of your shoulder blade?

#4 Shoulder Blade Alignment

Have someone measure the distance of each of your shoulder blades from your spine.

#5 Arm Alignment

Looking at a mirror while resting your arms down by your sides. Are your arms aligned with the side of your torso? Do your palms face the side of your hips, or are they turned inward or outwards?

#6 Thoracic Spine & Upper Body Posture

While sitting on a surface without a backrest, (on the floor, a stool or bench) can you keep your low back, shoulder blades and head touching the wall all at the same time?

 

 

Can you then slide your arms up the wall without having any part of your body pulling away from the wall?

#7 Lower Leg Alignment

Stand facing a mirror, are your legs straight, do your thigh bones aligned over your shin bones and do your kneecaps face forwards, both legs or just one?

#8 Foot Alignment

Look at the placement of your feet while standing and when walking. Do your toes point forward or turn outward or inward, just one or both feet?  

#9 Foot Posture

Do both of your feet have an arch on the inside of your foot?

#10 Toe Alignment

Can you fit a finger between each of your toes?

Please read my next blog, Posture and Alignment Assessments – Explanations where I explain these assessments and some of the reasons why your body may not have proper posture and alignment. In future blogs, I will give examples of how and why our body’s posture and alignments change. I will explain how to improve and/or correct these changes and how to avoid further joint wear and tear.

My sincere suggestion is to perform this assessment and the next two assessments; Mobility & Flexibility and Functional Strength, Mobility & Balance on yourself or with a loved one at least once a year. You can re-assess yourself around your birthday or at the start of the New Year to continue to track how well your body is aging. Comparing the results of these annual assessments may help you to catch any changes in your alignment, mobility, strength and balance to preempt future spine and joint misalignments, reduced mobility and to prevent falls.