title: Historical perspective milestones in the evolution of lumbar spinal postural health in seating.
abstract: The best knowledge on seated posture before the Enlightenment was not scientific, but influenced by sociocultural, economic, and manufacturing factors. Although the pursuit of knowledge related to spinal postural health was advanced with the advent of empirico-analytic research, academic opinion continued to be influenced by unsubstantiated information, often resulting in incorrect advice to the public. Only in the past decade has advice on "correct" seated posture, spanning the time from the Hippocratic texts to the present, been brought into question by evidence-based research. By exploring seating from 3100 B.C to the present, this article discusses key influences that have an impact on seating functional to spinal postural health. Emphasis is placed on the role of medical opinion.
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pynt
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Higgs
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mackey
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004534:Egypt; D004739:England; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000639:trends; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards; D018645:Greek World / Q000266:history; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000502:physiology; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control; D017846:Longitudinal Ligaments / Q000502:physiology; D008141:Lordosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D018644:Roman World / Q000266:history; D013131:Spine / Q000502:physiology*; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000502:physiology