We’ve all been told to “sit up straight” at some point—but does posture really matter as much as we think? And can the way we sit, stand, and move throughout the day actually cause pain? The short answer: yes… but it’s not quite as simple as “good” posture vs. “bad” posture. Let’s break it down. What Do We Mean by Posture? Posture isn’t just about how you sit at your desk—it’s the way your body holds itself in different positions, whether you’re standing, sitting, moving, or even lying down. When your muscles and joints are well-balanced, your body can cope with everyday demands more easily. But if certain muscles are working overtime (say, because you’ve been hunched over your laptop all day), you might start to feel tension, stiffness, or pain. How Posture Can Contribute to Pain Poor or sustained posture doesn’t automatically cause pain—but over time, it can put