Use Good Body Mechanics to Help Keep Your Spine Safe

Part 1 of 5

Professor and Chair, Department of Orthopaedics

University of California, San Diego

San Diego, CA

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Body mechanics refers to the way we move our body. Posture is an important component in body mechanics. Good posture generally means the spine is in a ‘neutral’ or ‘resting’ position. The four normal curves of the spine are natural. This position is not static (fixed) and is individual. A neutral spine is one in which the position is comfortably maintained by the discs, bones, and ligaments.

spine, lateral, labeled, color drawing

The four curves of the spine are Cervical Lordosis, Thoracic Kyphosis, Lumbar Lordosis and Sacral Kyphosis.

The purpose of this information is to help you minimize injury to your spine. To do this you need to be proactive and learn some basic 'preventive' body activities.

Posted on: June 24th, 2001
Last Updated on: February 1st, 2010

Peer Reviews by Leading Specialists

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Brian R. Subach, MD

In this article, Dr. Garfin does an excellent job explaining the normal structure and function of the spine. The emphasis on body mechanics is also extremely important. As a spine surgeon, I firmly believe that a significant number of the patients I see use poor body mechanics when performing activities related to their daily personal lives and careers. This may contribute to both injury and spinal degeneration. I highly recommend this well-written article as necessary basic information for the physician and patient alike.