People have been told to “sit up straight” for centuries — long before the internet. Interest in human gait — the way we walk — goes even further.
What changed is how constant and widespread the messaging became once social media platforms and wellness media scaled those messages.
Posture and gait – as social and biomechanical concepts
When we think of posture and gait, we think of physiology, biomechanics, corrective exercises. We often forget these concepts also have a strong socio-cultural meaning to them too.
Socially, posture and walking style are often treated as short hand for health, attractiveness and even moral character. We also see particular posture and gait patterns linked to professions (e.g. the military, models and actors) and genders among others.
Putting cultural meanings aside, posture and gait do matter to physical, mental, and functional wellbeing.
We all share the same basic biomechanical framework (e.g. spinal curves, multi-sensory system, gait cycle etc.).
Our posture and gait also reflect our unique anatomy, movement history, neuromuscular patterns and identity — universal anatomy, personal expression.
What is posture?
Posture refers to the way your body holds itself, especially against gravity, whether standing, sitting or moving. It’s maintained by muscles, bones, and joints working together for balance and efficiency.
What is gait?
Gait refers to the specific pattern or manner in which a person walks, involving coordinated movements of the legs, feet, arms, and torso.
It’s a fundamental aspect of human locomotion that reflects muscle strength, balance, coordination, and neurological function.
What influences posture and gait
Aging is a significant determinant of changes to posture and gait through its effect on bones, muscles, joints, sensory systems and the nervous system.
Genetic predispositions, injuries and medical conditions like arthritis, neurological conditions, or sarcopenia (age related muscle loss) can affect how we move and hold our body.
Suboptimal posture or gait doesn’t automatically cause pain for everyone. But repetitive positions or asymmetrical loads sustained over time (e.g., prolonged desk sitting or carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder) often lead to fatigue, strain, or compensations.
What can you do (action plan)
- When it comes to posture and gait, aim for “good enough” using two simple criteria:
- Comfort and endurance: it doesn’t hurt or excessively tire you over time.
- Ease and efficiency: movement and holding patterns feel energy-conserving and require minimal conscious effort.
2. Most general fitness advice applies here too: move often, move in varied ways, build full-body strength, and improve mobility, coordination and balance.
3. Watch these super short videos. They might give you some food for thought.
Lastly, choice is key here — you get to choose how your posture and gait reflect how you want to feel within and how you present to the world. Awareness and exploration can help you make that choice.
With a well-rounded movement practice, you’ll likely settle into an ease of being and moving that’s both broadly healthy and uniquely yours.
References:
Posture – https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/posture
Posture – https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-aging-and-longevity/why-good-posture-matters
Gait – https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/gait
Image credit: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-024-04327-4/figures/1,