We’ve all heard it: “Sit up straight!”,“Don’t slouch!”, or “Bad posture causes pain!” – But what if the idea of “good” or “bad” posture is not only outdated – it’s also unhelpful? Here is a new view of how modern osteopathy sees it.
Challenging the Posture Myth
It is time to challenge the long-held belief that posture alone causes pain or dysfunction. Research (and indeed common sense) increasingly supports the idea that there is no single ideal way to sit, stand or move. People adopt countless postural patterns—often shaped by occupation, environment, body type and even personality—and many thrive in so-called “bad” postures without issue. Pain is a complex phenomenon and is not directly related to how someone holds their body.
Focus on Adaptation and Capacity
Instead of rigid ideals, we should focus on adaptation and capacity. A healthy body is one that can move freely between different positions and handle the demands placed on it, not one locked into a textbook shape. Variability, strength, rest,and responsiveness to environmental demands matter far more than chasing symmetry or straight lines.
Osteopathy’s Perspective on Posture and Movement
This perspective is central to osteopathic thinking. Osteopathy has never been about enforcing perfect alignment. Rather, it values the relationship between form and function: how something behaves IS how something is put together, or to put it another way, behaviour is always appropriate for the configuration (think of wheels or arches). In this current body form, what are the demands being made and how well adapted is it to meet those demands. This prioritises the body’s self-healing capacities, its interconnectedness and its responsiveness to context.
The Aim of Osteopathic Treatment
The aim of osteopathic treatment isn’t to mould you into an ideal posture, but to support you and your body’s ability to adapt, recover and thrive.
A New Way to See Posture
So, next time you catch yourself slouching, remember: Posture isn’t a moral failing or a fixed blueprint. Your body isn’t broken—it’s doing what it knows. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s possibility.
About Jonathan Spadacchini
Jonathan is the Principal Osteopath at Dulwich Therapy Rooms. He brings this thoughtful, adaptable approach to supporting clients’ wellbeing through osteopathic care. You can book in with Jonathan here.
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