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Introduction

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1      We hear family members and teachers telling us to "sit up straight" and "stand tall", but do they say that because an erect posture is more aesthetically pleasing, or is it the key to a pain-free back? It's commonly believed that 'slump' sitting or 'slouch' standing damages our spines. But, is slouching really that bad?

2     Meghan Markowski, physiotherapist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital, says that a poor posture can lead to neck pain and back problems. She also links it to other problems like poor balance, headaches and breathing difficulties. Meghan says we should aim for an upright spine position and to avoid flexing and arching our backs. But, if you're a sloucher, there may be some good news coming from the last two decades of research…

3     In an article called "Sit Up Straight: Time to Re-evaluate", physiotherapist Diane Slater and colleagues review the current research and conclude that there is no strong evidence that slouching aggravates back pain, or even that a perfect posture exists. Instead, they argue that differences in our spinal curvatures are a fact of life, and that our backs are stronger than we think.

4    So, we're not sure that slouching causes back pain, but have you ever felt like slouching puts you in a worse mood? A 2014 study by Johannes Michalak and colleagues found that depressed participants in a slumped seated position remembered more negative words than positive, but this improved once they sat upright. That means that the way we sit might make us feel more negative. Should we sit up straight and stand tall then?

5   Something both sides seem to agree on is that we should avoid staying in one static posture throughout the day – we should change positions and stretch. The human spine is designed to be on the move and a sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of back pain. If you're unable to do this, slouching in front of your computer all day may cause you discomfort, but the evidence tells us it's not actually damaging your spine.

Questions

1.   Choose the best summary for the article.

a. A perfect posture exists and prevents all back pain.
b. Movement matters more than perfect posture.
c. Research proves slouching seriously damages the whole body.

2.    Choose the correct option based on the content of the article.

1. What does Meghan Markowski say about poor posture?
a. It always causes permanent damage to the spine.
b. It can cause breathing difficulties.
c. It improves balance and reduces back pain.

2. What do Diane Slater and her colleagues conclude about slouching?
a. Everyone should maintain exactly the same posture throughout the day.
b. There is no strong evidence that a perfect posture exists.
c. There is strong evidence that slouching damages the spine.

3. According to the 2014 study, what happened when depressed participants sat upright?
a. Their memory of negative and positive words stayed exactly the same.
b. They remembered more negative words.
c. They remembered more positive words.

4. People should avoid staying in one position for long periods of time.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

5. The research proves that slouching in front of a computer will permanently damage your spine.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

3.    Use the words from the list to complete the summary of the article.

Many people believe that 1) ________ can damage your back and cause pain. However, a 2) ________ reviewed research and found little evidence for this claim. The article suggests that there isn’t a perfect position for the 3) ________. Instead of staying perfectly 4) ________ all the time, it is more important to avoid remaining in one position for too long. A 5) ________ lifestyle may increase the risk of back pain.

aesthetically pleasing
discomfort
physiotherapist
sedentary
slump sitting
spine
upright

Vocabulary 

erect posture
standing or sitting straight with good posture

aesthetically pleasing
attractive and pleasant to look at

slump sitting
sitting with a rounded back

slouch standing
standing with rounded shoulders and a bent back

spine
the backbone

physiotherapist
a healthcare professional who treats movement and physical problems

upright
straight and vertical

flex
bend or curve

arch
curve backward in a bow shape

aggravate
make worse

spinal curvature
the curve of the spine

static
not moving

sedentary
a lot of time sitting down and doing very little physical exercise

discomfort
slight pain or uneasiness 

Answers

1.    Choose the best summary for the article.

b. Movement matters more than perfect posture.

2.    Choose the correct option based on the content of the article. 

1. b. She also links it to other problems like poor balance, headaches and breathing difficulties.

2. b. … physiotherapist Diane Slater and colleagues review the current research and conclude that there is no strong evidence that slouching aggravates back pain, or even that a perfect posture exists.

3. c. A 2014 study by Johannes Michalak and colleagues found that depressed participants in a slumped seated position remembered more negative words than positive, but this improved once they sat upright. That means that the way we sit might make us feel more negative.

4. a. True. Something both sides seem to agree on is that we should avoid staying in one static posture throughout the day – we should change positions and stretch.

5. b. False. If you're unable to do this, slouching in front of your computer all day may cause you discomfort, but the evidence tells us it's not actually damaging your spine.

3.    Use the words from the list to complete the summary of the article.

Many people believe that slump sitting can damage your back and cause pain. However, a physiotherapist reviewed research and found little evidence for this claim. The article suggests that there isn’t a perfect position for the spine. Instead of staying perfectly upright all the time, it is more important to avoid remaining in one position for too long. A sedentary lifestyle may increase the risk of back pain.

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