RT Book, Section A1 KISNER, CAROLYN A1 THORP, JACOB N. A2 Kisner, Carolyn A2 Colby, Lynn Allen A2 Borstad, John SR Print(0) ID 1169774915 T1 The Spine: Structure, Function, and Posture T2 Therapeutic Exercise: Foundations and Techniques, 7e YR 2018 FD 2018 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780803658509 LK fadavispt.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1169774915 RD 2024/04/19 AB Posture is alignment of the body parts whether upright, sitting, or recumbent. It is described by the positions of the joints and body segments and also in terms of the balance between the muscles crossing the joints.46 Impairments in the joints, muscles, or connective tissues may lead to faulty postures, or, conversely, faulty postures may lead to impairments in the joints, muscles, and connective tissues as well as symptoms of discomfort and pain. Many musculoskeletal complaints can be attributed to stresses that occur from repetitive or sustained activities when in a habitually faulty postural alignment. This chapter reviews the structural relationships of the spine and extremities to normal and abnormal posture and describes the mechanisms that control posture. Common postural impairments and general guidelines for their management are described. Specific exercises for the various body regions are highlighted in this chapter and are described in detail in the succeeding chapters in Part IV of the text. Chapter 15 describes the common pathologies associated with the spine and details management guidelines, and Chapter 16 describes spinal exercises and manual interventions in detail.