Great Grandma Was Right – Posture Matters! | Michelle Joyce | TEDxDavenport

[Music]

[Music] when I tell people that I’m a posture

when I tell people that I’m a posture

when I tell people that I’m a posture coach they tend to get pretty

coach they tend to get pretty

coach they tend to get pretty self-conscious they start shifting

self-conscious they start shifting

self-conscious they start shifting around and they’re not really sure what

around and they’re not really sure what

around and they’re not really sure what they’re supposed to do with their bodies

they’re supposed to do with their bodies

they’re supposed to do with their bodies and then eventually they end up settling

and then eventually they end up settling

and then eventually they end up settling on a position that looks a little

on a position that looks a little

on a position that looks a little something like this

something like this

something like this but the second I look away they go back

but the second I look away they go back

but the second I look away they go back to looking like this and that’s because

to looking like this and that’s because

to looking like this and that’s because we all look like this we spend a lot of

we all look like this we spend a lot of

we all look like this we spend a lot of time rounding our backs and craning our

time rounding our backs and craning our

time rounding our backs and craning our heads towards screens even our toddlers

heads towards screens even our toddlers

heads towards screens even our toddlers look like this but the problem is that

look like this but the problem is that

look like this but the problem is that this kind of posture leads to chronic

this kind of posture leads to chronic

this kind of posture leads to chronic back pain now I know it’s easy to blame

back pain now I know it’s easy to blame

back pain now I know it’s easy to blame all of this on the screens around us but

all of this on the screens around us but

all of this on the screens around us but it’s really not a new problem over a

it’s really not a new problem over a

it’s really not a new problem over a hundred years ago doctors were warning

hundred years ago doctors were warning

hundred years ago doctors were warning us about this very issue they said that

us about this very issue they said that

us about this very issue they said that the decline of American posture would

the decline of American posture would

the decline of American posture would lead to an epidemic of back pain and as

lead to an epidemic of back pain and as

lead to an epidemic of back pain and as a result of these warnings there was a

a result of these warnings there was a

a result of these warnings there was a massive campaign to prevent bad posture

massive campaign to prevent bad posture

massive campaign to prevent bad posture and children it was the single largest

and children it was the single largest

and children it was the single largest national public health policy that

national public health policy that

national public health policy that you’ve never heard of at the turn of the

you’ve never heard of at the turn of the

you’ve never heard of at the turn of the century every every public school in

century every every public school in

century every every public school in America taught reading writing

America taught reading writing

America taught reading writing arithmetic and posture and students

arithmetic and posture and students

arithmetic and posture and students received posture evaluations every

received posture evaluations every

received posture evaluations every single week the program was created by

single week the program was created by

single week the program was created by many of the same people who created the

many of the same people who created the

many of the same people who created the physical education movement and so that

physical education movement and so that

physical education movement and so that meant that kids who failed their posture

meant that kids who failed their posture

meant that kids who failed their posture tests received special corrective

tests received special corrective

tests received special corrective exercises to do during PE class it was

exercises to do during PE class it was

exercises to do during PE class it was physical therapy but the problems were

physical therapy but the problems were

physical therapy but the problems were being addressed before the child

being addressed before the child

being addressed before the child developed chronic pain this photo is

developed chronic pain this photo is

developed chronic pain this photo is from a 1913 textbook and it shows a chin

from a 1913 textbook and it shows a chin

from a 1913 textbook and it shows a chin tuck exercise that’s very similar to

tuck exercise that’s very similar to

tuck exercise that’s very similar to something that a modern physical

something that a modern physical

something that a modern physical therapist might prescribe for forward

therapist might prescribe for forward

therapist might prescribe for forward head posture this

head posture this

head posture this so common now that it’s recently been

so common now that it’s recently been

so common now that it’s recently been nicknamed eye posture but a hundred

nicknamed eye posture but a hundred

nicknamed eye posture but a hundred years ago kids were doing stretches and

years ago kids were doing stretches and

years ago kids were doing stretches and exercises that were specifically

exercises that were specifically

exercises that were specifically designed to prevent the kinds of

designed to prevent the kinds of

designed to prevent the kinds of problems that we’re seeing today this

problems that we’re seeing today this

problems that we’re seeing today this was once considered one of the most

was once considered one of the most

was once considered one of the most important tasks of the public school

important tasks of the public school

important tasks of the public school system and they were ingenious about it

system and they were ingenious about it

system and they were ingenious about it kids were doing exercises at their desks

kids were doing exercises at their desks

kids were doing exercises at their desks to prevent bad posture

to prevent bad posture

to prevent bad posture so this little guy is demonstrating good

so this little guy is demonstrating good

so this little guy is demonstrating good and bad form for doing those sit ups at

and bad form for doing those sit ups at

and bad form for doing those sit ups at your desk pretty ingenious and it wasn’t

your desk pretty ingenious and it wasn’t

your desk pretty ingenious and it wasn’t just that they did a bunch of stretches

just that they did a bunch of stretches

just that they did a bunch of stretches and exercises kids were taught about

and exercises kids were taught about

and exercises kids were taught about body mechanics and ergonomics they all

body mechanics and ergonomics they all

body mechanics and ergonomics they all knew the right and wrong way to sit in a

knew the right and wrong way to sit in a

knew the right and wrong way to sit in a chair and the schools made sure that

chair and the schools made sure that

chair and the schools made sure that they had desks that fit them properly

they had desks that fit them properly

they had desks that fit them properly because everybody knew that if a desk

because everybody knew that if a desk

because everybody knew that if a desk was too big or too small that the child

was too big or too small that the child

was too big or too small that the child would develop severe posture problems

would develop severe posture problems

would develop severe posture problems and they talked about things that we

and they talked about things that we

and they talked about things that we don’t even think about today like the

don’t even think about today like the

don’t even think about today like the proper positioning of your shoulder

proper positioning of your shoulder

proper positioning of your shoulder blades which is flat against your

blades which is flat against your

blades which is flat against your ribcage and not winged out like in this

ribcage and not winged out like in this

ribcage and not winged out like in this photo here because winged shoulder

photo here because winged shoulder

photo here because winged shoulder blades are assigned that your shoulders

blades are assigned that your shoulders

blades are assigned that your shoulders are rolled forward they talked about how

are rolled forward they talked about how

are rolled forward they talked about how habits like holding your hands in your

habits like holding your hands in your

habits like holding your hands in your pockets could set off a chain reaction

pockets could set off a chain reaction

pockets could set off a chain reaction of bad posture all the way up through

of bad posture all the way up through

of bad posture all the way up through your whole body children were taught to

your whole body children were taught to

your whole body children were taught to evenly distribute the weight of their

evenly distribute the weight of their

evenly distribute the weight of their schoolbooks between both arms and that’s

schoolbooks between both arms and that’s

schoolbooks between both arms and that’s because they didn’t want their growing

because they didn’t want their growing

because they didn’t want their growing bodies to develop any imbalances as part

bodies to develop any imbalances as part

bodies to develop any imbalances as part of those weekly posture tests kids were

of those weekly posture tests kids were

of those weekly posture tests kids were drilled on everyday activities like

drilled on everyday activities like

drilled on everyday activities like walking up and down stairs as a result

walking up and down stairs as a result

walking up and down stairs as a result of all of this kids understood how to

of all of this kids understood how to

of all of this kids understood how to take care of their bodies the public

take care of their bodies the public

take care of their bodies the public school system was very enthusiastic

school system was very enthusiastic

school system was very enthusiastic about this mission it

about this mission it

about this mission it started back when school became

started back when school became

started back when school became mandatory for all children it’s hard to

mandatory for all children it’s hard to

mandatory for all children it’s hard to imagine now but back when States first

imagine now but back when States first

imagine now but back when States first started passing laws requiring kids to

started passing laws requiring kids to

started passing laws requiring kids to attend school

attend school

attend school it was incredibly controversial parents

it was incredibly controversial parents

it was incredibly controversial parents were outraged that the government would

were outraged that the government would

were outraged that the government would require their children to do something

require their children to do something

require their children to do something as unhealthy as sits behind a desk for

as unhealthy as sits behind a desk for

as unhealthy as sits behind a desk for six hours a day and that’s why the

six hours a day and that’s why the

six hours a day and that’s why the public school system took on the

public school system took on the

public school system took on the responsibility of making chronic sitting

responsibility of making chronic sitting

responsibility of making chronic sitting as safe as possible but by about the

as safe as possible but by about the

as safe as possible but by about the mid-1960s the posture movement had lost

mid-1960s the posture movement had lost

mid-1960s the posture movement had lost its battle against popular culture it

its battle against popular culture it

its battle against popular culture it had been a battle ever since the 1920s

had been a battle ever since the 1920s

had been a battle ever since the 1920s because that’s when the flapper

because that’s when the flapper

because that’s when the flapper generation first made slouching

generation first made slouching

generation first made slouching fashionable and it’s an attitude that

fashionable and it’s an attitude that

fashionable and it’s an attitude that still persists today just open up any

still persists today just open up any

still persists today just open up any magazine or look at any album cover and

magazine or look at any album cover and

magazine or look at any album cover and so now the idea that we should teach

so now the idea that we should teach

so now the idea that we should teach posture to our kids has just kind of

posture to our kids has just kind of

posture to our kids has just kind of faded away but the problems that they

faded away but the problems that they

faded away but the problems that they were worried about then are even worse

were worried about then are even worse

were worried about then are even worse today so I decided to see if some of

today so I decided to see if some of

today so I decided to see if some of these old fashioned lessons could help

these old fashioned lessons could help

these old fashioned lessons could help my kids can you guess which one is my

my kids can you guess which one is my

my kids can you guess which one is my daughter

daughter

daughter and I just wanted to point out that

and I just wanted to point out that

and I just wanted to point out that she’s not sitting like this because I

she’s not sitting like this because I

she’s not sitting like this because I nagged at her she’s sitting like this

nagged at her she’s sitting like this

nagged at her she’s sitting like this because it’s a habit it turns out that

because it’s a habit it turns out that

because it’s a habit it turns out that kids really enjoy learning about their

kids really enjoy learning about their

kids really enjoy learning about their bodies and the more you teach them the

bodies and the more you teach them the

bodies and the more you teach them the more interested they become in their own

more interested they become in their own

more interested they become in their own health but if you just nag at them and

health but if you just nag at them and

health but if you just nag at them and say come on sit up straight nothing will

say come on sit up straight nothing will

say come on sit up straight nothing will change it’s kind of the same thing as

change it’s kind of the same thing as

change it’s kind of the same thing as saying come on just be better at

saying come on just be better at

saying come on just be better at basketball right I mean you can nag at

basketball right I mean you can nag at

basketball right I mean you can nag at them all you want but if they don’t

them all you want but if they don’t

them all you want but if they don’t receive any coaching and they never

receive any coaching and they never

receive any coaching and they never practice then it won’t make any

practice then it won’t make any

practice then it won’t make any difference and when it comes to posture

difference and when it comes to posture

difference and when it comes to posture just a tiny bit of guidance can really

just a tiny bit of guidance can really

just a tiny bit of guidance can really go a long way just look at the

go a long way just look at the

go a long way just look at the difference that it made when I lifted my

difference that it made when I lifted my

difference that it made when I lifted my daughter’s iPad off of her lap and put

daughter’s iPad off of her lap and put

daughter’s iPad off of her lap and put it up onto the table now she’s not

it up onto the table now she’s not

it up onto the table now she’s not tempted to fold forward toward the

tempted to fold forward toward the

tempted to fold forward toward the screen now of course sometimes she does

screen now of course sometimes she does

screen now of course sometimes she does need to look down at things and when she

need to look down at things and when she

need to look down at things and when she does she knows how to do it without

does she knows how to do it without

does she knows how to do it without collapsing forward and that’s because

collapsing forward and that’s because

collapsing forward and that’s because it’s something we practiced we played a

it’s something we practiced we played a

it’s something we practiced we played a little game we saw who could nod their

little game we saw who could nod their

little game we saw who could nod their head without letting their ears move

head without letting their ears move

head without letting their ears move through space in other words I was

through space in other words I was

through space in other words I was teaching her that when she looked down

teaching her that when she looked down

teaching her that when she looked down she should imagine that her ears are the

she should imagine that her ears are the

she should imagine that her ears are the fulcrum of the movement and at her head

fulcrum of the movement and at her head

fulcrum of the movement and at her head is pivoting around them it’s a small

is pivoting around them it’s a small

is pivoting around them it’s a small little thing but it helps protect her

little thing but it helps protect her

little thing but it helps protect her against that forward head posture that

against that forward head posture that

against that forward head posture that we were talking about before now not

we were talking about before now not

we were talking about before now not everything is this simple and

everything is this simple and

everything is this simple and straightforward and that’s mostly

straightforward and that’s mostly

straightforward and that’s mostly because it seems like the whole world is

because it seems like the whole world is

because it seems like the whole world is designed to ruin her posture I recently

designed to ruin her posture I recently

designed to ruin her posture I recently went to her second-grade back to school

went to her second-grade back to school

went to her second-grade back to school night and saw chairs like this in the

night and saw chairs like this in the

night and saw chairs like this in the classroom now I’m sure that the teachers

classroom now I’m sure that the teachers

classroom now I’m sure that the teachers and administrators didn’t know about it

and administrators didn’t know about it

and administrators didn’t know about it but chairs like this are terrible for

but chairs like this are terrible for

but chairs like this are terrible for growing bodies a bucket seat pushes your

growing bodies a bucket seat pushes your

growing bodies a bucket seat pushes your pelvis into a tucked position it puts

pelvis into a tucked position it puts

pelvis into a tucked position it puts all of your weight on your tailbone

all of your weight on your tailbone

all of your weight on your tailbone makes your whole spine

makes your whole spine

makes your whole spine and then to top it all off it pushes you

and then to top it all off it pushes you

and then to top it all off it pushes you into a forward head position when you’re

into a forward head position when you’re

into a forward head position when you’re sitting up your bones can do the job of

sitting up your bones can do the job of

sitting up your bones can do the job of holding you up and your muscles can

holding you up and your muscles can

holding you up and your muscles can relax and that’s the secret healthy

relax and that’s the secret healthy

relax and that’s the secret healthy posture is about relaxation the second

posture is about relaxation the second

posture is about relaxation the second you collapse forward the muscles in your

you collapse forward the muscles in your

you collapse forward the muscles in your back are working overtime just to hold

back are working overtime just to hold

back are working overtime just to hold up your head not to mention the fact

up your head not to mention the fact

up your head not to mention the fact that you’re also hanging on your

that you’re also hanging on your

that you’re also hanging on your ligaments that puts an incredible amount

ligaments that puts an incredible amount

ligaments that puts an incredible amount of unnecessary wear and tear on your

of unnecessary wear and tear on your

of unnecessary wear and tear on your body but the good news is that sitting

body but the good news is that sitting

body but the good news is that sitting properly isn’t that difficult once you

properly isn’t that difficult once you

properly isn’t that difficult once you know how to do it so I have a simple

know how to do it so I have a simple

know how to do it so I have a simple little trick it’s easy even for very

little trick it’s easy even for very

little trick it’s easy even for very young children to remember all you do is

young children to remember all you do is

young children to remember all you do is when you sit down you lean forward you

when you sit down you lean forward you

when you sit down you lean forward you scoot your bottom back as far as it’ll

scoot your bottom back as far as it’ll

scoot your bottom back as far as it’ll go and then you simply sit up and relax

go and then you simply sit up and relax

go and then you simply sit up and relax and I hear the sound of a few scooching

and I hear the sound of a few scooching

and I hear the sound of a few scooching bottoms out there it might feel a little

bottoms out there it might feel a little

bottoms out there it might feel a little funny at first but once you get used to

funny at first but once you get used to

funny at first but once you get used to it I think you’ll find that it’s a lot

it I think you’ll find that it’s a lot

it I think you’ll find that it’s a lot more comfortable

more comfortable

more comfortable these are simple life hacks that every

these are simple life hacks that every

these are simple life hacks that every child should know because right now our

child should know because right now our

child should know because right now our kids have absolutely no idea how to

kids have absolutely no idea how to

kids have absolutely no idea how to protect their bodies in the age of

protect their bodies in the age of

protect their bodies in the age of screen time they’re setting themselves

screen time they’re setting themselves

screen time they’re setting themselves up for a lifetime of chronic pain and

up for a lifetime of chronic pain and

up for a lifetime of chronic pain and they don’t even know it

they don’t even know it

they don’t even know it but it’s preventable and we don’t even

but it’s preventable and we don’t even

but it’s preventable and we don’t even need to reinvent the wheel all we need

need to reinvent the wheel all we need

need to reinvent the wheel all we need to do is put a modern twist on some

to do is put a modern twist on some

to do is put a modern twist on some old-fashioned wisdom thank you