Posturology is a medical discipline that treats pathologies affecting posture. However, it is important to clarify the difference between posture and position. Posture is static, it is the acquired disposition of our body at a certain moment, which means that, for example, if I am sitting with my arms crossed, that is my position. On the other hand, posture is dynamic, it is the response of our central nervous system to the information received by our sensors, both external and internal (eyes, mouth, viscera and feet). Hence, when we are standing, we are never standing still, but we are an inverted pendulum.
What happens when the sensors give wrong information to the musculoskeletal system?
Once the information is received by the receptors (eyes, mouth, viscera and feet), the central nervous system captures the information and transmits a response that is translated into the musculoskeletal system.
If any of the captors fails, the response elaborated will be incorrect, which produces different pathologies, such as headache, musculoskeletal pains, instabilities, scoliosis, functional dysmetries, etc. There are even studies that relate it to some types of depression.
Postural study to correct defects that may interfere with posture.
Posturology is a multidisciplinary science, so many specialists are involved: podoposturologists (from Podiatry), physio-posturologists, odontoposturologists and behavioral optometrists. Once the postural study adapted to the patient’s needs has been carried out, the appropriate professional will intervene.
The postural study consists of a complete anamnesis where all the captors and elements that may interfere and condition the posture (scars, piercings, tattoos, traffic accidents, falls, organic diseases…) are evaluated. Subsequently, a treatment plan will be designed to address everything necessary.
In most cases these are patients who have already visited many specialists, without success, for their pathology. And this happens simply because it is a postural pathology not identified as such. They are usually patients who fall or stumble frequently, and parents define in the case of children as “clumsy” or “absent-minded”.
What are the benefits of podoposturology treatments?
Podoposturology is the evaluation of the influence of the foot on posture, which is treated with postural insoles. The foot plays a very important role in posture, being a large input of information and, if it fails in the patient, it will influence the rest of the sensors, and vice versa.
The treatment of podoposturology is a very beneficial treatment, since not only disappear or reduce symptoms, but also avoid future pathologies that, if left untreated, will eventually appear.
Podiatrists can start treating girls from the age of 5, and boys from the age of 6, always making parents aware that the central nervous system does not finish forming until the age of 8, more or less, so it is best to wait until that age, if the pathology allows it. If the child has a very important pathology, from the age of 2 years can begin to assess babies, but in this case we work the primitive reflexes, which have much to do with the posture, and thus avoid future pathologies.
It is very important to understand that in our body there are distributors of movement and lines of force that go from the feet to the head, that is why we are connected: we are a whole, and “everything influences everything”.