10 postures that indicate health problems

Your posture may reveal a lot about your physical condition. Muscle imbalances, areas of tension, and weaknesses will all manifest in subtle ways on your body. Below, we reveal some of the most common body secrets that you may not know.

Clue: What slouching reveals

Tight Hamstrings Slouching when you sit means your hamstrings (the muscles in the back of your thighs) are tight. "The hamstrings connect to your pelvic muscles, and if they're tight, it can cause your sit bones to tilt forward, which can cause your spine to curve when you sit down." Stretching your hamstrings can help you sit up more easily.

Clue: What a heavy-looking butt reveals

Weak feet may sound unrelated, but buttocks that jut outwards are a clear sign of excess fat, which can indicate weak feet. When your arches are weak, not only will your feet lose power, but your hips will also sag. The tops of your thighbones will move outward and forward, and your pelvis will drop and move forward. This will make your buttocks look extra heavy and weaken your outer glute muscles.

Clue: What a protruding belly reveals

Tight Latsis If your lats are tight, they will compress your torso and flex your spine. "This will pull all your internal organs forward, making it look like you have a belly. Simply stretching your lats can tone your torso and make you look thinner.

Clues: What a protruding belly reveals

Weak core muscles and excessive back arching If you're dieting and have stretched your lats, but still have a protruding belly, your core muscles and back may be weak, causing your belly to protrude.

Clue: What sagging buttocks reveal

Weak back muscles If your butt is flat or concave, it may be due to weak core muscles, especially the deep back muscles called the multifidus. These deep core muscles help stabilize your spine and allow you to naturally bend slightly forward.

Clue: What does a foot turned outward reveal?

Tight Hips If you stand up straight but one foot turns outward, it may be because your hips are too tight. Hip lifts strengthen the inner and outer thigh muscles (adductors and abductors).

Clue: What does one shoulder higher than the other reveal?

Muscle Imbalance If you use the same shoulder every day to carry a backpack or laptop or other heavy objects, one shoulder will be higher than the other. It can be treated through massage or movements such as shrugs, but be aware that the side with more tense muscles requires more stretching time.

Clues: What rounded shoulders reveal

Weak chest, overextended back Sitting at a desk all day can give you rounded shoulders and a thin chest. Doing wall stretches can help strengthen your pectoral muscles.

Clue: What the forward head reveals

Tension and weakness in the neck muscles, too many pillows, or improper sleeping posture can cause the head to move forward. “This often indicates tight skull base and neck muscles and weak deep neck flexors.”

Clue: What does a droopy hip reveal when standing?

Gluteus medius weakness If one hip lowers than the other when you stand, this may be a sign of gluteus medius weakness. The gluteus medius is a key muscle used to control the hip and knee joints. The higher the hip, the weaker the gluteus medius.