• A shirt or tank that indicates bad posture though biofeedback

• Warns against poor posture by a mild vibration anytime you slouch

• It’s Silent: Only you know• Discreet can be turned off at

anytime• Simple to use. Set up quick and

adjust on the fly!

• Proprietary filament technology senses sagging

• Adjustable sensitivity• Uses 3 LR44 batteries• Remove posture disc when

shirt needs laundering

Doc Brian story

• 1994 Lumbar disc surgery x2• 2004 Cervical spine HNP• 2009 C-spine HNP recurrence• 2006 Right shoulder decompression• 2008 Left Shoulder Rotator Cuff repair

Effects of Poor Posture well documented in medical literature

•MusculoskeletalMusculoskeletal•NeurologicalNeurological•RespiratoryRespiratory•GastrointestinalGastrointestinal•PsychologicalPsychological

Doc Brian “No Buzz”

Doc Brian “Buzzin”

In the News!!

Shoulder ultrasound with the PostureTek: A pilot study

• Will correct posture “open” the subacromial space?◦ Eliminate Rot Cuff impingment◦ Avoid biceps tendonitis

• Ultrasound very effective in diagnosis subacromial pathology*

*The clinical utility of ultrasonography for rotator cuff disease, shoulder impingement syndrome and subacromial bursitis.Awerbuch MS.Med J Aust. 2008 Jan 7;188(1):50-3

Ultrasound Results

• In all activities (arm elevation, typing,reaching) the slouched position decreased the subacromial space. Neutral Neutral positionposition 0.97cm 0.97cm

acromionacromion

RotatorRotator Cuff Cuff (supraspinatous(supraspinatous))

Rotator Cuff (supraspinatous)Rotator Cuff (supraspinatous)

acromionacromion

Slouching 0.90cmSlouching 0.90cm

acromionacromion

Rotator cuff (supraspinatousRotator cuff (supraspinatous))

Slouch typing 0.26!!Slouch typing 0.26!!

Conclusion

• Rotator cuff, rotator cuff interval, biceps tendon at greater risk of compression/injury with poor posture

What causes poor posture?• Growing up

◦ Boys hide newfound height◦ Girls hide budding breasts◦ Computers,video games

• Adulthood◦ Stress/Tension and fatigue, “weight of the world

on one’s shoulders”◦ Nonverbal communication (ie. sad, overworked)◦ Lack of exercise

• Growing old◦ “failure” bones, joints, muscles

The Price of Pain Newsweek 2008

A new study reveals that Americans are spending record amounts on treatments for their aching backs. But are these expensive fixes a waste of money? By Karen Springen • Back problems cost 76 percent more than other medical issues• Financial concerns: medical care for spinal issues

◦ 1997 $52.1 billion ◦ 2005 $85.9 billion

• Patients self-reported more work limitations and poorer functioning in 2005 than in 1997, are we helping these patients?

• Are we missing something?• PostureTek theory: Yes, Prevention!!!

What does sitting do??

1. It turns off most of the abdominal muscles.

2. It over works the back muscles (when posture is controlled otherwise it just stresses the spine).

3. It over stretches the spinal ligaments.

4. It stresses the back portion of the spinal discs.

5. It shortens the very popular Psoas muscle.

6. It shortens the hamstring muscles.

7. It shortens the calf muscles.

8. It reduces blood circulation by restricting the vessels in the groin area.

9. It slows down lymph flow by restricting lymph nodes and vessels in the groin area.

10. It stresses the neck by making it more difficult to keep our neck in neutral.

Back pain in 86% of all Americans at one point in their life!!!! Why??

1. Inactivity

2. Misuse

3. Over training

4. Poor training method

5. Poor posture

6. Poor diet

7. Stress

Select Literature• Effect of different sitting postures on lung capacity, expiratory flow, and

lumbar lordosis. Lin et al. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2006◦ Decrease Pulmonary function with slouching

• Sitting biomechanics part I: review of the literature. Harrison et al. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1999

• Sitting biomechanics, part II: optimal car driver's seat and optimal driver's spinal model.Harrison et al. J Manip Physio Ther, 2000◦ Both studies share major concerns of spinal overload with poor sitting posture

• Effects of slouching and muscle contraction on the strain of the iliolumbar ligament. Snijders CJ et al.Man Ther. 2008 ◦ Sudden slouching of the upright trunk may create failure risk for the spine

• The influence of slouching and lumbar support on iliolumbar ligaments, intervertebral discs and sacroiliac joints. et al. Snijders CJ Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2004◦ Slouching, results in backward rotation of the sacrum with respect to the ilium,

dorsal widening of the intervertebral disc L5-S1 and strain on the iliolumbar lig

Select Literature

• Ergonomic requirements for dental equipment” http://www.optergo.com April 2007◦ 65% dentist have musculoskeletal complaints

• Poor posture linked physiological processes such as abnormal breathing, blood pressure and a compromised immune system 1994. Cady R. J Pain Mgmnt◦ Ground breaking study that linked poor posture to other physiological processes

• Individual and work related risk factors for neck pain among office worker

◦ Significant associations were found between neck pain and often holding the neck in a forward bent posture for a prolonged time.

Select Literature

• Influence of carrying heavy loads on soldiers’ posture, movements and gait◦ These greater moments imply increased stress on the neck muscles

resulting in strain, musculoskeletal dysfunction head and neck aches and craniofacial and shoulder pain

• The relationship between head posture and severity and disability of patients with neck pain◦ Subjects with neck pain revealed a significant forward head posture

when compared to the subjects without neck pain.• Determining the relationship between cervical lordosis and neck

complaints◦ Patients with straight and kyphotic cervical curves were 18 times more

likely to present with cervical symptoms

Select Literature

• The effect of postural correction on muscle activiation amplitudes recorded from the cervicobrachial region.◦ Corrected posture in sitting did, however produce a statistically significant

reduction in muscle activity compared to forward head posture

• Cervical headache: an investigation of natural head posture and upper cervical flexor muscle performance◦ Clinicians should be aware of the relationship between cervical headache

and poor craniocervical posture.• The biomechanics of lumbar disc herniation and the effecr of overload

and instability. Wider et al. J Spinal Dis 1998◦ These experiments complete the argument that lumbar disc herniations

can be a direct mechanical consequence of prolonged sitting in static or vibration environments

The following are excerpts from this scholarly paper :

"Despite considerable evidence that posture affects physiology and function, the significant influence of posture on health is not addressed by most physicians."

"Observations of the striking influence of postural mechanics on function and symptomatology have led to our hypothesis that posture affects and moderates every physiologic function from breathing to hormonal production. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse, and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture."

"The most significant influences of posture are upon respiration, oxygenation, and sympathetic function. Ultimately, it appears that homeostasis and autonomic regulation are intimately connected with posture."

"For many years physiologists have shown that the position of the head on the neck is vital because it governs all postural reflexes. If the head is misaligned, other parts of the body move in and out of line to maintain balance and thus energy is expended to counteract the effects of gravity."

"At the Shealy Institute, clinicians have consistently observed striking postural abnormalities in virtually every patient with back pain, headache, or depression."

• PostureTek Pending Research◦ Influence of PostureTek on

Surface emg recordings while sitting

◦ Dynamic Ultrasound of shoulder with PostureTek

◦ Clinical improvement of Rotator Cuff Tendonitis with use of PostureTek