Abstract

Athletes frequently present postures that are peculiar to their sport. Postures often develop as a result of the specificity that particular sport has on selected muscle groups. Selective development or atrophy may result in a potential for overuse injuries and/or syndromes. This vulnerability to pain is also evident after athletes retire from their athletic endeavor and the deconditioning process begins. Although postures are attained unconsciously and are difficult to correct without deliberate effort on the part of the athlete, they should be considered during evaluation and treatment of athletes. Posture should also be included in pre-season evaluations to allow earlier correction of potiential problems. This article describes the evolution of and the considerations for correct posture. We present examples of postural pain syndromes resulting from athletic activity as well as suggestions for therapeutic exercises and modifications in daily activities to help alleviate deficiences found with these athletes. Verf.-Referat