Getting to know our neutral spine

by Martin Rooke

When we stand, we have an arch in our lower back called our lordosis. In this position, our lordosis shape is ‘neutral’.

Place one hand in the small of your back and one hand on your stomach. Alternate between sitting and standing, while trying to maintain your lordosis in its standing shape.

(Place one hand in the small of your back and one hand on your stomach. Alternate between sitting and standing, while trying to maintain your lordosis in its standing shape. )

Your lordosis shape should be much the same whether you’re sitting or standing.

Our lordosis shape should be much the same whether we are sitting or standing.

Test yourself:

  1. Stand in front of a chair and place one hand in the small of your back and the other hand on your stomach.
  2. Note the shape of your lordosis.
  3. Now sit down and restore the shape of your lordosis.
  4. Do this several times, maintaining this back shape, to get the feel for your neutral posture. Keeping your lordosis in neutral is good for your back and will help you to improve your overall posture.

Your lordosis shape should be much the same whether you’re standing or driving.

Your lordosis shape should be much the same whether you’re standing or driving.

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