Posture is any position in which the body resides. Most people think of posture as static (stationary). But there are literally thousands of dynamic (moving) postures in which the body can reside. It is useful to categorize postures into three common postures (Fig. 1: upright, Fig. 2: horizontal, Fig. 3: flexed), and three uncommon postures (Fig. 4: extended, Fig. 5: brachiated, Fig. 6: inverted). Soldiers spend virtually all of their time (work, rest, play) in the three common postures. In addition, military training can place compressive stress on the body. If we don't spend time in the three uncommon postures (extension, inverted, brachiated), our bodies will maladapt, and with gravity's influence will become imbalanced over time. Muscular attachments shorten, decreasing our mobility and increasing our susceptibility to injury.
