WHAT IS MODERN BODY SYNDROME?

Think about your daily routine. 

Chances are, you spend a decent amount of your time during the day sitting at a desk, or driving a car, or looking at your cell phone. Maybe you spend a great deal of each day doing all three of these things. 

The trappings of our modern life force our bodies to take a shape that defies proper posture. Our head is forward, our upper back is rounded and our shoulders are forward, and our hips are forward. When we are sitting, the muscles in the front of our hips (the hip flexors) become shortened and tight. 

All of these tweaks to our posture caused by activities we cannot avoid can lead to head and neck pain, lower back pain, a rounded (hunched) back and more. 

This is Modern Body Syndrome. 

I can't think of one segment of the population that doesn't suffer from some form of this. Seniors, in general, become more sedentary as they age. Middle age parents (my people!) spend time shuttling their children around between activities and sit at desks for long hours in their highly demanding jobs. Teens and tweens spend ridiculous amounts of time texting their friends and posting on Instagram, as well as sitting in class.

I have a theory about  the future of human skeletal evolution. Someday in the very distant future, whatever species inhabits our planet will find a skeleton with a neck that protrudes from the upper chest, and hands with two digits. A thumb and a forefinger. Because that's all we will need for texting.

I'll post more about ways you can stay aware of how modern life is affecting your body, and some things you might do to try and combat the ill effects.

For now, stand up, move around, look straight ahead and breathe deeply.  

(Thanks to my friend Daniel Featherstone for the use of his amazing photo at the top of this post. It's a perfect example of Modern Body Syndrome. Check out his work at www.danielfeatherstone.com)

ORIGINALLY POSTED OCTOBER 19, 2015