The posture that I, a guitarist, regret not fixing [Things guitarists should know about their body]

Hello!
My name is Takuto Fujioka, guitarist in an acoustic unit called BABY BABY and an occupational therapist.

Have you ever regretted not doing something?
I think there is only one thing in my life that I wish I had done at the time.

This time, I would like to talk about "the posture that I regret not fixing". Of course, it has a lot to do with the guitar.
Let's get started!

What I mean by "the posture that I regret not fixing" is to sit in a chair like this.

It is a sloppy posture where you lean against the backrest and trust yourself to it. If there were a [bad posture of the year] that creates an even worse stoop, this would be the definite winner. 。(ﾟωﾟ) If you have many opportunities to sit in a chair to study or work, and if you have been sitting in this position for a long time, or if you are basically sitting in this way, now, please review your posture immediately!

Well, just being told to do something with no explanation... Even though I was warned that I had bad posture, I had never bothered correcting it...(ToT)
Next, let's look at why the above posture is bad.

The “pelvis” is one of the factors that makes the sitting posture sloppy.
The pelvis is also the central part of the body and is part of the "trunk" that plays the role of the supporting everything.

When the pelvis is lying behind, the weight of the body is not applied to the pelvis, so the original role of the pelvis to support the body is not exerted, the center of gravity is biased backward, and the spine bends accordingly.
This state is similar to a stoop. If this happens, your back will be curled up and at the same time your abdominal strength (abdominal muscles) will be weakened.
If you are able to sit in the correct posture, your abdominal muscles will be strong enough to maintain your posture just by sitting.This relaxed state is a very unstable posture, and you cannot maintain your posture without some support. At the same time, the abdominal muscles become weaker and weaker as the posture that does not use the abdominal muscles continues.

If you hold a posture for a long time without using your abs, that posture will gradually become a habit. We try to take a balanced posture without using muscles. This is exactly the posture shown in the first picture, and it creates a stoop when you lean fully on the backrest. If this posture continues for a long time, you will not be able to support your body with your own strength without knowing it. In addition, strong pressure is applied to the muscles and spine on the back side, which may lead to back pain and other disorders.

Can you play the guitar with a body that has become accustomed to such an unstable and bad posture?
There is no position in which you cannot play. Even if you lie down, you can play if you want to. Lol
However, it is certain that this posture and body are not suitable for playing.

But don't get me wrong, it doesn't mean you shouldn't take a bad posture. There are times when you want to sit on the couch and relax and play the guitar. I think there are times when you want to sit roughly. In such a case, I think it's best to sit back and play in a relaxed posture.
However, the problem is the body that cannot maintain a stable posture without support!!!
I want to say this out loud.

A body that becomes unstable without support due to a weakened core is trying to balance using different muscles, such as unnecessary force being applied in one way or a biased posture without knowing it. If this happens, the movements required to play the guitar will be limited, and flexible movements will not be possible.
Therefore, I would like you to review your usual posture before playing the guitar as well.

Like myself, every time I sit in a chair, I sit sloppily, and when I play the guitar, I'm stooping, and I'm leaning my back on the backrest, more and more my body comes to be too weak to support itself. You will not be able to support it with extra force. And it will have a big negative effect on your guitar playing in the invisible place. Like me, it’s not too late to fix your bad posture after you notice it. But it is better to fix it as early as possible. It is difficult to correct or improve a habitual posture or movement.

And finally.
For those of you who have read this far, I would like to tell you the seated posture that you absolutely want to have.
It is very easy.

Sit so that your weight rests on your ischia and soles. That’s it.

The ischium is a protruding bone that you can touch when you put your hand under your bottom.

If you can sit down with this in mind, your abdominal muscles and other muscles needed to maintain your posture will work to support your body.
Even a short time is fine. Be careful about how you sit once a day, and if you notice that you are sitting sloppily, please sit back and correct your posture. Daily accumulation will build up your body and create good posture!
I hope this article will give guitarists a chance to think about their posture.

See you next time!