Your muscles, joints, and spine work more efficiently when they are in alignment. When poor posture throws positioning off, your body works harder than it should, even during the most basic tasks. This can lead to strain, weakness, and tension, causing a variety of orthopaedic concerns.

Many of these issues affect the spine, leading to neck pain, back pain, or an unusual, exaggerated spinal curvature. Posture-related orthopaedic conditions also affect other joints, including your knees, wrists and shoulders or the positioning of your feet.

Orthopaedic conditions due to poor posture typically cause pain. The location and severity of the pain depend on which joint or joints are impacted.  

Common Symptoms 

• Posture-related pain may include:  
• Back strain 
• Difficulty maintaining balance or walking 
• Headaches 
• Neck tension 
• Numbness or tingling 
• Rounded or uneven shoulders  
• Spine differences, such as rounding in the upper back or an exaggerated inward curve of the lower back 

Posture-related orthopaedic conditions are often due to everyday habits throwing off spinal alignment and straining your joints. Examples include slouching in your chair or extending your head forward while using your phone (text neck).

Some posture-related orthopaedic condition risk factors include:

You undergo a thorough evaluation to pinpoint the specific cause of your symptoms. In some cases, poor posture causes multiple orthopaedic conditions. For example, poor spine alignment may cause slight differences in how you walk, putting strain on your hips, knees, or ankles.

We listen carefully as you describe what you are experiencing. Our program treats a high volume of patients, enabling us to detect subtle details that help you receive exceptional care.

We also perform a physical exam and assess spinal alignment. This involves asking you to hold specific positions, like raising your arms, standing or walking. In some cases, imaging tests, such as X-rays or MRIs, are necessary.

At UC Davis Health, you receive nationally recognized orthopaedic care from trusted specialists. Orthopaedic surgeons, many with advanced (fellowship) training, guide your care. You have access to experts in spine, knee, hip, and upper extremity issues, so you can feel confident you’re receiving the best available therapies.

We often treat posture-related orthopedic conditions with nonsurgical therapies that restore proper alignment and relieve strain on your body. Caring providers are in clinics throughout the Sacramento area, making it easier to fit treatment into your busy schedule.

For complex cases, you benefit from our team approach. We may draw on specialist expertise in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Radiology, Pain Medicine, Neurosurgery, and Integrative Medicine. We don’t stop until you reach your treatment goals.

One of the best things you can do to avoid this type of joint pain is to maintain awareness of your posture. You can also adopt practices that support good posture. These include maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active and stretching muscles that tend to be tight.