“Good Posture” Won’t Fix Your Back Pain – Here’s Why
- Wes Tubb
- May 12
- 3 min read
“Sit up straight or you’ll wreck your back!”
It’s advice we’ve all heard—and maybe even passed on ourselves. For years, posture has been blamed as the main cause of back pain. We’re told to pull our shoulders back, keep our spines straight, and avoid slouching at all costs.
But here’s the surprising truth: posture alone isn’t the full story when it comes to back pain.
At Oak Health Osteopathy, we regularly see patients with “textbook posture” who still suffer from ongoing discomfort. On the flip side, others with slouched or asymmetrical postures often experience no pain at all.
So what’s actually going on? Let’s take a deeper look.
🧠 Posture Is a Piece of the Puzzle – Not the Whole Picture
Research has increasingly shown that there’s no single ‘perfect’ posture that guarantees a pain-free back. Human bodies come in all shapes, sizes, and movement patterns. What’s comfortable and functional for one person may not work for another.
More importantly, staying in any one position for too long—whether upright, slouched, or somewhere in between—can lead to stiffness and discomfort.
So rather than obsessing over posture perfection, the key is to prioritise movement and restore your body’s ability to move well in all directions.
💥 The Real Culprit: A Lack of Movement
The spine is designed to move—flex, extend, rotate, and bend. When we spend hours sitting (even in good posture), we reduce blood flow, shorten muscles, and limit joint mobility. Over time, this can lead to tightness, restriction, and yes—pain.
Think of your back like a garden hose. If you leave it coiled up in one position for too long, it gets kinked. But if you keep it flexible and flowing, everything moves better.
🏃♂️ At Oak Health, We Focus on Movement Quality
At Oak Health Osteopathy, we don’t just tell people to “sit better.” We help them move better.
Our back pain treatments often include:
Osteopathic hands-on therapy to reduce tension, restore joint mobility, and ease pain
Movement assessments to identify areas of restriction or imbalance
Targeted rehab exercises to improve flexibility, strength, and control
One of the key tools we use is something called Controlled Articular Rotations (CARs).
🔁 What Are Controlled Articular Rotations (CARs)?
CARs are slow, deliberate joint movements taken through their full available range. They’re designed to help:
✅ Maintain joint health
✅ Improve body awareness and control
✅ Identify and reduce movement limitations
✅ Restore fluid motion to stiff, underused areas
For example, doing spinal CARs involves slowly moving your spine through its full range—bending, extending, and rotating in a controlled way. This not only improves mobility but also teaches your body how to use that range more effectively in daily life.
We often give our patients CARs to use as part of a daily movement routine—especially if they’re desk-bound or sedentary for long periods.
🧘 Movement Is Medicine
We believe that the best posture is your next one.
Rather than stressing about sitting "just right," aim to move often, stretch daily, and build strength and control in your spine and hips. This approach not only reduces pain but empowers you to take charge of your own recovery.
The result? Less stiffness. More freedom. A back that supports you—whether you’re at your desk, in the garden, or on the golf course.
📍 Final Thoughts
If you’ve been battling back pain and feel like you’ve tried everything—posture braces, ergonomic chairs, stretching apps—it might be time to shift your focus.
Let’s stop chasing the “perfect” posture and start improving how your body functions.
📞 Ready to get moving again, pain-free? Book your consultation at Oak Health Osteopathy in Cheadle Hulme today, and let’s build a back that works for your lifestyle—not just your chair.
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