Posture Research Studies - Body of Evidence

You know from experience, poor posture can lead to shorter breaths (decrease respiratory function), fatigue, all kinds of pain (back, neck, muscles, headache), what else? Did you know it can slow digestion and bring on constipation? I didn't. Yay!

And, you might feel more peppy and confident when you sit up straight. But did you know you might also turn into a math wiz? Here are some of the research studies that look at posture. Many studies are about the unhealthy physical and unhappy mental consequences of poor posture. I recommend reading it wearing a Posie or Poser.

Take these studies with a scientific mindset, some have stronger evidence than others. The reason to wear a Posie, or Poser, is if you feel better wearing it than not.

Health, Lungs, Breath, Fatigue & Posture

• Incontinence, Constipation, Heartburn & Slow Digestion: "3 surprising risks of poor posture" 7/2023 https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/3-surprising-risks-of-poor-posture
• Decreased Respiratory Function with Forward Head Posture: "Effect of forward head posture on thoracic shape and respiratory function" 2019 https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpts/31/1/31_jpts-2018-328/_article/-char/ja/
• Lungs/Breathing and Posture: 7/2018 "Effect of Different Head-Neck Postures on the Respiratory Function in Healthy Males" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6077663/
• Muscles & Lungs - Poor Posture Contributes to Breathing Pattern Dysfunction: "Breathe Deeper to Improve Health and Posture" 2/2018 https://www.healthline.com/health/breathe-deeper-improve-health-and-posture#breathingrate
• Posture Health Affects and Good Posture: "Guide to Good Posture" 10/2017 https://medlineplus.gov/guidetogoodposture.html
• Lung Capacity: "Effect of Different Sitting Postures on Lung Capacity, Expiratory Flow, and Lumbar Lordosis" 4/2006 https://www.archives-pmr.org/article/S0003-9993(05)01472-3/fulltext

Poor Posture Pain - Neck, Back, Muscles, Headaches

• Slumping for 15 Minutes Increases Pain: "Prolonged slumped sitting causes neck pain and increased axioscapular muscle activity during a computer task in healthy participants – A randomized crossover study" 7/2023 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003687023000583
• Slumped Posture & Lower Back Pain: 1/2021 "Effects of Prolonged Sitting with Slumped Posture on Trunk Muscular Fatigue in Adolescents with and without Chronic Lower Back Pain" https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7822118/
• Back Pain in Top 3 of US Healthcare Spending: 12/2016 "Diabetes, heart disease, and back pain dominate US health care spending" https://www.healthdata.org/news-events/newsroom/news-releases/diabetes-heart-disease-and-back-pain-dominate-us-health-care  and http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/infographics/Infographic_Dex_WEB_Page-1_2017.pdf
• Migraines: "Myofascial trigger points, neck mobility and forward head posture in unilateral migraine"9/2006  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16919056/

Text Neck Posture Pain

• Smarphones and Musculoskeletal Discomfort: "The correlation between smartphone use and musculoskeletal symptoms" 8/2023 https://ph04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JCST/article/view/1747
• Texting and Posture: "Linking head and neck posture with muscular activity and perceived discomfort during prolonged smartphone texting" 5/2021 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169814121000524?via%3Dihub
• Smartphone usage and posture: The Effect of Posture and Duration of Smartphone Usage on Neck Flexion Angle 11/2019 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1071181319631137
• Summary of Smartphone usage and posture studies: "Musculoskeletal disorder and pain associated with smartphone use: A systematic review of biomechanical evidence" 2018 https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S1013702518300010
• Tech/Text Neck: "Assessment of stresses in the cervical spine caused by posture and position of the head" 11/2014 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25393825/

Computer/Desk Work Posture Pain

• Neck Pain and Computer Use: "Differences in upper body posture between individuals with and without chronic idiopathic neck pain during computerised device use: A 3D motion analysis study" 6/2022 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0966636222000893
• Poor Posture and Back Pain - Pandemic Posture: ""Pandemic posture" hurting your back? You can fix it! 10/2021 https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/pandemic-posture-hurting-your-back-you-can-fix-it
• Neck & Back Pain, Musculoskeletal Discomfort and Computer Use: Musculoskeletal discomfort and use of computers in the university environment 5/2018 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003687018300218

Posture & Psychology

• Posture & Math - Slouching = Greater Difficulty Doing Math: "Do Better in Math: How Your Body Posture May Change Stereotype Threat Response" 2018  https://www.neuroregulation.org/article/view/18396/12025
• Posture & Physical & Mental Health: " Good posture is important for physical and mental health" 12/2017 https://news.sfsu.edu/archive/news-story/good-posture-important-physical-and-mental-health.html
• Posture, Fatigue & Depression: "Upright posture improves affect and fatigue in people with depressive symptoms" 3/2017 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27494342/
• Posture & Stress Response: "Do slumped and upright postures affect stress responses? A randomized trial" 6/2015 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25222091/
• Posture & Learning Mood: "The Impacts of Open/closed Body Positions and Postures on Learners’ Moods" 3/2015 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/276846841_The_Impacts_of_Openclosed_Body_Positions_and_Postures_on_Learners'_Moods
• Power Posing Affects: "Preparatory power posing affects nonverbal presence and job interview performance" 2015  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25664473/
• Posture & Leadership: "The Effects of Posture on Self-Perceived Leadership" 7/2012  http://www.tpettijohn.net/academic/Arnette%20&%20Pettijohn%20(2012)%20-%20The%20Effects%20of%20Posture%20on%20Self-Perceived%20Leadership.pdf
• More than 50 Studies up to 2015 about the affect of posture on psychology: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VZQxTNGncn-x7nz9OsNXmkz9rFkhdYEjzNXN7vqrYKA/pubhtml?gid=1181532305&single=true

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