What Posture Type Are You? Why Your Alignment Matters

Posture has become a hot topic in physical therapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, and other movement-based professions. Everywhere you look, people are debating:

• Is posture important?

• Does “poor posture” cause pain?

• Does posture affect function and mobility?

Research has even shown there’s no universal consensus that posture alone causes lower back pain. So it’s understandable that people get confused.

But at Congruency Therapy & Wellness, with clinics serving Charlotte and Lake Norman, NC, we look at posture through a functional lens—not a cosmetic one.

Let’s break down what posture really tells us about your body.

Is Posture Actually Important?

Yes—posture matters more than most people realize.

At both of our clinics, posture is one of the first components we assess, right after discussing your symptoms, lifestyle, and history.

Why? Because your resting posture gives valuable information about how your body will respond once you start moving. When we analyze your ribcage, pelvis, spine, breathing, and overall alignment, we can often predict:

• Which muscles are overworking

• Which areas are stiff or restricted

• How well you’ll tolerate certain movements

• Where your body is compensating

• How gravity influences your movement strategy

Posture doesn’t determine everything, but it sets the foundation for efficient, pain-free movement.

Does Poor Posture Cause Pain?

Not always—but it absolutely can.

Even if posture isn't the original cause of pain, it can be the reason your pain persists, especially when certain structures are already irritated.

A simple clinical example:

A client comes in with neck pain.

1. I ask them to slouch down.

2. I gently apply downward pressure to the top of their head.
   → Pain.

Then:

1. They sit in a more balanced “stacked” posture with their head aligned over their shoulders.

2. I apply the same pressure.
   → No pain.

Did posture change the pain response?
Definitely.

This doesn’t mean posture is “good” or “bad”—it simply changes the forces acting on your joints, discs, and muscles.

How Posture Affects Movement & Function

Your posture directly influences how freely and efficiently you move.

Try this:

• Sit in a slouched posture.

• Raise one arm overhead.
  → Limited motion. Maybe a pinch.

Then:

• Sit tall in a neutral, stacked posture.

• Raise the arm again.
  → Bigger range. Often less discomfort.

This happens because posture affects:

• Ribcage position

• Shoulder blade position

• Diaphragm mechanics

• Spine mobility

• Muscle recruitment patterns

In short:
Better posture often means better access to your mobility and strength.

Why We Use the Saliba Postural Classification System (SPCS)

At Congruency, we use the Saliba Postural Classification System, a research-backed method for identifying posture types. It’s simple, reliable, and easy for clients to understand.

SPCS analyzes two key components:

1. The vertical alignment of the ribcage over the pelvis:

   • Vertical

   • Anterior

   • Posterior

2. The angle or tipping between the ribcage and pelvis:

   • Vertical

   • Anterior

   • Posterior

These two factors create six possible posture types, each with predictable movement tendencies and areas likely to compensate.

What Your Posture Type Reveals About Your Body

Your posture type can help us understand:

• Why certain movements feel restricted

• Which muscles are overactive vs. underactive

• Why certain areas hurt during exercise

• How gravity affects your positioning

• Which positions give you relief vs. irritation

It’s not about “fixing” you—it’s about helping your body work more efficiently.

How We Improve Posture in the Clinic

Once we identify your posture type, we use pre-tests and post-tests to see how changing your alignment affects:

• Pain

• Range of motion

• Strength output

• Balance

• Breathing capacity

• Movement quality

If you can’t easily achieve a neutral posture, that tells us exactly where we need to focus—whether that’s improving mobility, teaching better motor control, strengthening specific areas, or using manual therapy to restore balance.

Can You Actually Change Your Posture?

Yes—but not by forcing yourself to “sit up straight.”
We improve posture by improving:

• Strength where you need it

• Mobility where you lack it

• Breathing mechanics

• Your body’s relationship with gravity

• Awareness and motor control

Posture becomes more natural and effortless when the body is balanced.

Want a Professional Posture Assessment?

We offer full posture and movement evaluations at both Charlotte and Lake Norman locations.

A professional assessment is ideal if you struggle with:

• Neck pain

• Shoulder tightness

• Low back pain

• Breathing issues

• Limited mobility

• Recurrent injuries

• Poor movement efficiency

Congruency Therapy & Wellness provides posture assessments, movement analysis, and physical therapy services in Charlotte, NC and the Lake Norman region. We help active adults reduce pain, improve mobility, and optimize posture for long-term health and performance. See the videos below for detailed explanations of self posture corrections.

Vertical/Vertical

Vertical/Posterior and Posterior/Posterior

Posterior/Anterior

Anterior/Posterior

Anterior/Anterior

Shoulder blade and Head/Neck

Congruency Therapy & Wellness provides posture assessments and physical therapy services both Charlotte, NC and the Lake Norman Region. We help active adults improve movement, reduce pain, and restore full-body function.