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Comment by zamalek | Hacker News Reader

Keep in mind that classical wisdom about posture is cooked-up nonsense. Remember that it was the same people who had women balancing bowls of water on their head and wearing corsets who came up with these ideas.

An actually good posture consists of two things: whatever feels comfortable, and changing your posture over the day.

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I'm most comfortable curled up like a shrimp and I'm absolutely certain that isn't good for me, so I'm not sure your statement is entirely true. :)

Hahaha, the classic picture: https://i.redd.it/dg7bp13xzc871.jpg

So long as you don't stay like that all the time and vary your posture, it's probably not as negative as popularly assumed. Moving a lot is more important than assuming some static 'optimal' posture.

I am not sure exactly what problems you have with corsets, but they are undoubtedly based on modern myths that were invented after corsets fell out of fashion. Corsets themselves (and stays and bodices and other shapewear) are actually very comfortable and beneficial for a woman to wear. Just ask the likes of Jill Bearup or Bernadette Banner.

Historical costumers really bristle at the lousy attitude of Hollywood actresses who whine and complain about "painful corsets" because their stylists (and producers) didn't know the first thing about the garments and historical periods they were charged with representing.

I agree totally that the standard advice about posture and ergonomics is unscientific nonsense. And changing posture is good. However, it is definitely possible for a posture that feels comfortable to be bad for you. Some are better than others.

Not sure I buy that. Retracted scapula, engaged core, a few other things a PT could tell you makes the most efficient use of your posterior chain and thereby reduces fatigue and risk of injury

Can you get away with not doing it? Sure. Just like you can do deadlifts with a rounded back (to a point), or drive without using your turn signal, or swim using the doggy paddle. But is it good for you?

A good PT would also tell you exactly what GP is saying: You can’t just “fix your posture”— you have to change positions and move about every 30 minutes or more to avoid injuries.

So ever since lockdown I've pretty much spend like 18 hours a day on my bed: I sleep there and I do most of my work fromnthere, including meetings, debugging and mild coding. I only get up to eat and work out and if I'm typing a lot. Haven't noticed any issues till now. Let's see how my spine turns out!

You're living the dream

yea worked for me till I hit 40

Same here except not 18 hours. More like 12 hours (sleep + half the working day). The other half of the working day is sitting. I change positions whenever I feel like it which is about every 45 mins.

"the most ergonomic position is the next one"

That's rather silly advice, as depending on the person it may be self-contradictory and, so, impossible to actually follow. "Whatever feels comfortable" can be "staying in one great position and not changing it as everything else is pain".

I don't know, I think posture is pretty common sense. It is especially more eye opening when you're more aware of your posture, correct it regularly, and magically your chronic back pain and regular headaches suddenly disappear.

And your RSI, and even apnea insomnia, unbelievable as it may seem. But, given posture affects circulation and that can affect everything, maybe that makes reasonable sense, and could involve say, brain circulation and oxygenation.

Balancing water on your head actually sounds like a good way to learn spinal control!

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