Posture assessments are not diagnostic of a specific condition

A doctor was disappointed when he first got our PostureZone assessment software--there was no "magic box" to tell a patient what was wrong. And he was surprised to hear that BodyZone didn't offer nor care to offer a software which tried to tell people their problem. We offered him a full refund if he was dissatisfied....which he enthusiastically declined after our conversation.
Here's why:

Telling someone the cause of problem is the purpose of a health professional, and is called a diagnosis. Posture assessment is observational and correlative, NOT diagnostic. In other words, if someone's head deviates 3 degrees to the left over his feet, or there is a reduced arm-body interspace on the right, those are observations. The person may suffer from headaches, or neck pain, or be completely asymptomatic.

However, if the person does have a symptom which is caused by a mechanical problem, quite often there will also be a correlating posture distortion. Not surprisingly, if there is a treatment or therapy administered which helps the problem, there is often a corresponding improvement in the posture distortion towards greater symmetry and alignment.

Unlike the blood pressure measures from machines in the supermarket, posture assessment does not have an accepted one-to-one relationship with a disease. A software posture assessment in and of itself is not diagnostic of a specific problem. I have seen people with very significant distortion and minimal current symptoms...and vice versa. But by far and away, greater symmetry of alignment and function POST TREATMENT correlates with improvement of symptoms--when they look better they feel better. As I sit here writing, I cannot think of a single patient I've seen whose posture looked better post treatment but complained of greater symptoms.

Despite the hyperbole of softwares claiming a diagnostic "magic number" from a posture assessment, there is no credible research I am aware of backing up such claims. Using posture assessment to create fear or hype is wrong. However, studies do indicate improved wellness correlates with improved Balance, Alignment and Motion---BAM, the three elements of posture. Which is why building awareness of an individual's posture with annual assessments is an intelligent LifeHabit, and helping people to do so builds your perceived value to them. Showing an improvement in posture BAM post-treatment which correlates with improved symptoms is also a powerful tool to build posture awareness and perceived value.

Which is why the doctor is happy posture assessment requires a professional.

Posture Pictures: Posture Assessment, Screenings, Marketing & Forms, S. Weiniger, BodyZone Press, 2011