“When you’re sitting at 90 degrees, your hip flexors get super tight because they’re kind of squished, so when you go to get up out of your chair, … After a while, all of these factors can lead to bad posture. Sleeping on your stomach, as well as standing for extending periods of time, can flatten out the natural C-shaped curve of the neck, leading to the pencil’s ridig neck stance. 2. Very straight, rigid, or inflexible. Mr. Radley's posture was ramrod straight. His guest was the Island’s premier tyre salesman, Pierre des Cieux. If you experience severe lower back pain during your period, it may be because of PMS, PMDD, dysmenorrhea, or something more serious. Kyphosis affects mobility and mortality in older people. Or a shoe lift can help equalize your leg length to improve your gait and help you stand straighter. He also was highly decorated as a CIA operative. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/ramrod+straight. Your lower back looks straight and you stoop forward. At 45 degrees forward, it increases to 49 pounds, and at 60 degrees forward, it increases to 60 pounds. Good posture doesn’t mean sitting ramrod-straight in your seat. Does This Sleeping Position Mean Anything, or Is It Just More Comfortable? So “ramrod straight posture” simply describes how someone might sit or stand perfectly straight, and perhaps with military stiffness or formality, such as the way this guard … ‘he held himself ramrod straight’. It helps your body work more efficiently in keeping you upright against the force of gravity. You’re likely to find some that suit your schedule and ability. I guessed right, Robert thought. When Mr. Radley died, his son, Nathan, returned from Pensacola. They may diagnose an underlying condition that can be treated, such as osteoporosis or arthritis. Good posture refers to having a neutral spine, where your muscle groups, joints, and ligaments are aligned in a way that reduces stress on them, keeps your body flexible, reduces fatigue, and helps maintain your balance. Beck to model the comic book superhero Captain Marvel after him, MacMurray made an ideal hero in rugged adventure-dramas like "Singapore" (1947) opposite Ava Gardner. Sitting for prolonged periods can also weaken your abdominal muscles and glutes. Used to describe someone's physical posture or demeanor. Thin with his military bearing, before he was seated he strode across the balcony with ramrod straight posture. Bad posture can lead to many kinds of physical problems, from back pain to pain in your temporomandibular joint, to lack of balance and foot pronation. If your poor posture is bothersome or noticeably problematic, see a doctor or other healthcare professional to determine what’s causing the problem. Tech neck, text neck, and nerd neck are other names for forward head posture. Ramrod-straight posture allows us to distinguish soldiers, police and security personnel, and fashion models and pageant contestants, from everyone else in a crowd. But she still exhibits that unmistakable dancer’s carriage—the ramrod straight posture, elevated chin, and slight turnout of the feet—as she strolls the hallways. I regret to report that Woodward, who admired both Mattis and Lt. General H.R. She's always ramrod straight during class, studiously taking notes. Forward head posture is when your head is positioned with your ears in front of the vertical midline of your body. You can develop swayback if you sit a lot, which tightens the muscles in your back. You look like you’re leaning back when you’re standing up, with your stomach and your rear sticking out. Read our guide for great tips to help you maintain the correct piano posture. Your back is actually supposed to recline 15 to 20 degrees to keep your hips open, not be ramrod straight. In this position, your lower back has an exaggerated inward curve. Alignment is the optimal position of all of the body parts so that the joints are efficiently used, which enables the muscles to … Change the configuration of your work station. Text neck tightens muscles and their supporting ligaments and tendons in the front of your neck, and at the same time lengthens the muscle structure at the back of your neck. A physical therapist can help you develop a routine of stretches and exercises for strengthening the muscle groups that will help you stand or sit properly. Try These 8 Strategies, Daniel Bubnis, M.S., NASM-CPT, NASE Level II-CSS, 6 Chiropractor-Approved Exercises to Fight Text Neck. The trial continues Tuesday. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. He sat ramrod straight at the table, glowering at me throughout the meal. He forbade colleagues from dropping by without an invitation. Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. Most posture problems can be solved by stopping poor habits and starting stretching and strengthening exercises that target the support muscles that are weak. Although he was born in what is now Aloxa, his accent was that typical “East Island” one, with its formalities of phrase. ADJ n I don't have the ramrod posture I had when I was in the Navy. You can find some specific tips for avoiding or fixing tech neck here and here. Having a very erect posture, typically accompanied by a serious or formal demeanor. Or you may use repetitive motions in your workplace. Posture is the position of your body when you’re standing or sitting. Make these quick posture fixes to stop slouching and prevent pain. While your back does not (and should not) be ramrod straight, the natural curvature of your spine should be maintained. You walk with coordinated arm swings. There are many exercises and stretching routines that have proven helpful for posture and balance. Have you ever noticed yourself walking down the street with your right arm perfectly in sync with your left leg and vice versa? Having a forward head is a common bad posture. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved. We all do. Ramrod straight, his posture spoke as much about his years of military discipline as it did his uncompromising values. Pain and fatigue can increase the longer you keep standing. something down somebody's throat. It can affect your appearance, self-confidence, and general well-being. Ramrod is also an adverb., adv ADV adj At 75, she's still ramrod straight. Want to Kick Your Slouching Habit? As she walked in she could feel the tension in the room, with her mother sitting ramrod straight in her chair. A pinched nerve in the lower back can be painful, causing sciatica, weakness, tingling, and more. ... which should be straight but loose. You may have pain in your neck and lower back. How to Treat Severe Lower Back Pain During Your Period, Pinched Nerve in the Lower Back: Everything to Know, Have Back Pain? The good news is that you can improve your posture with exercises and, if necessary, posture aids. The ramrod-straight shoulder and back position of Jack Nicholson’s character in ”A Few Good Men” is a parody of good posture and alignment. He stood as stiff as a ramrod after his name was called, too nervous to move. • Email: ahumphreys@postmedia.com | Twitter: AD_Humphreys When your forward posture is 15 degrees out of alignment, the force on your spine increases to 27 pounds. Older women with hyperkyphosis have a 70 percent increased risk of fracture. If your posture is out of alignment, it can lead to: Bad or out-of-alignment posture is common. Kyphosis refers to an exaggerated curvature of your upper back (the thoracic spine) where the shoulders are rounded forward. 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The degree to which you’re hunched over determines the amount of pain and dysfunction you’ll experience from this misalignment. In both cases, the core muscles that stabilize your back become weak. Here's how to get started. Swayback also increases your risk of developing back and hip injuries and other musculoskeletal injuries, such as disc degeneration. He would take his father's place as the head of the household, and the watcher over Boo. In our aging population, kyphosis is estimated to affect 20 to 40 percent of older men and women, and the angle of kyphosis continues to increase as you age. The characteristic of this posture, standing ramrod straight, can be just as harmful as slumping. A ramrod is a long straight piece of iron used in the past to push explosive into a gun. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Discover the importance of having a good piano posture. You stand tall. Ramrod straight definition: having a very straight figure | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Here are four common types of poor posture and what you can do to correct or compensate for them. If your body is in alignment, your ears and shoulders will be lined up with your vertical midline. Flatback can make it painful for you to stand for long periods. Instead, it’s important to know what proper alignment (of your head, shoulders, hips, and knees) feels like so you can self-correct when your body starts getting out of whack. Others include swayback and flatback. From curing headaches to building self-confidence, here are 12 ways good posture can help us. It describes how your spine is aligned with your head, shoulders, and hips. Younger persons may develop kyphosis as a result of diseases such as polio or Scheuermann’s disease, infection, or chemotherapy or radiation to treat cancer. Learn the strategies that can help…. The whole class sat in their chairs as stiff as ramrods during the principal's lecture. We were his friends for life. That’s not going to stop just because we stopped wearing a uniform. If it's a minor issue, you may be able to do some…, In the first study of its kind, researchers introduced Nintendo’s Wii Fit U to some unlikely players: Adults aged 55 and older who suffer from chronic…. General Mark Hilliard, Deputy Director of NSA, appeared to be in his middle fifties, very tall, with a face carved in flint, icy, steely eyes, and a ramrod-straight posture. It contrasts with his typical ramrod straight posture and attentive focus. It’s like they drilled it into you or something. To maximize the effect, Kate liked to slip on what she called her trick shoes - heels that boosted her height a full four inches. What do Atlanta "water boys," the presidential election and politics in general have in common? What’s the Best Sitting Position for Good Posture? Plus you’ll…. It can be straight or bent, formal or relaxed. After a reputation of honesty and probity as military governor, petroleum minister, member of the Supreme Military Council, his colleagues found no one better to wear the diadem as military head of state than the, We've been told slouching is bad for us since since our school days - but school anddesk jobsaren't exactly conducive to having a, The genius of Cold Pursuit lies largely in the supporting cast, who plays the oddballs against the, Grizzled old men with weathered faces and burnished medals pinned on their chests stood silently before the cenotaph, some, Her well-known posture was evident as she sat, poised and, I'm sure for those more inclined to analysis it would've proved a stirring image at the time: superimposing South Africa's geopolitical shackles on the juvenile Forrest Gump, hoping that once the running commenced then the country would be as, Even during rare events put on for their entertainment, prisoners are only allowed to sit, Walter Walsh was 92 years old when I first met him, still stood, He is the example a teacher would use in class to get across the concept of ', Denise, who up until then had been listening in quiet sympathy, sat up, When he was in his 70s, with a big white beard and. But yet you don't have to kill the program was developed by 65 year old martial art expert mark Shui junior a man with a ramrod straight posture. You may be born with scoliosis (an abnormally curved spine) or one leg shorter than the other, which can affect your posture. Memminger also assumed the right antiegalitarian frostiness. Even I know that “proper posture” doesn’t just mean standing (or sitting) ramrod-straight. All rights reserved. You may spend a long time leaning over a small screen, slouching in a chair, or carrying a heavy backpack when you walk. In a great majority of athletic events and real-life tasks, a ramrod straight posture, or at least its approximation, greatly improves the efficiency. Posture affects our lives in many ways. Harrison Keller said, "General Hilliard, this is Commander Bellamy." Here it just means something that’s exactly straight. The effects of a forward head posture range from neck pain, stiffness, and headache to an association with higher mortality rates for elderly men and women. It’s what’s meant by the phrase “standing up straight.”. "The … Flatback is a condition where the normal curve of your lower spine loses some of its curvature. Researchers Say Video Games Can Help, possible injury during exercise, work, or other activities. A physical therapist can check your posture and monitor whether you’re doing the exercises correctly. Peyton has got nice manners, plays well with dogs and humans, and wants nothing more than to be loved and to love. For example, a posture brace and taping may help reduce hyperkyphosis. Experts say exercises like yoga can help reduce the risk of neck and back pain. It’s easy to develop a habit of bad posture without thinking about it. In other words, pay attention and be mindful of what you are doing in your daily activities. You may also have neck and back pain. Although you might expect a confident posture to consist of a ramrod-straight back and arms held to either side, this sort of rigid position can appear uptight. Is there a best type of posture? “You are a footman, and a footman wears gloves,” says Mr. Carson, the butler of Downton Abbey, in a tone that brooks no argument. 3 adj If someone has a ramrod back or way of standing, they have a very straight back and hold themselves in a rather stiff and formal way. It allows them to seem to stand taller, and to have a more imposing physical presence, so … Instead of high heels, opt for flats, wedges, or other more supportive footwear. She's always ramrod straight during class, studiously taking notes. Kyphosis is a more extreme form of forward head posture. Relieve that neck pain with these exercises and tips. It often comes from hunching over a cell phone or computer, or your steering wheel if you drive a lot. Swayback, also called lordosis or hyperlordosis, is when your hips and pelvis tilt forward, in front of your body’s midline. A small 2019 study of healthy college students found that a forward head posture decreases the lower thorax (mid-spine) mobility, leading to decreased respiratory function. Physically, proper spinal alignment means that your muscles and bones are in balance, protecting your body against injury or stresses that might cause degeneration of muscles or joints. In a neutral posture, your head weighs 10 to 12 pounds. Posture: The Straight-Up Story. On the other hand, slouching, keeping your head down, and crossing your arms are each a means of making yourself look smaller, which indicates timidity, fear, and insecurity. The effect can be dramatic. Osteoporosis (bone thinning) can cause the shoulders to round as your spinal bones weaken with age. Other causes may be obesity, injury, neuromuscular conditions, and abnormalities of your spine and vertebrae. ‘Every time he appeared on screen, with his ramrod straight posture and gaze of steel, my friends and I would burst out laughing.’. A 2014 study calculated the force in pounds of flexing the neck forward to different degrees. More example sentences. In workdays that often stretch 10 to 12 hours, she develops curriculum and standards; oversees class schedules, program planning, personnel matters, and auditions; and raises money. Good posture isn’t about keeping your spine ramrod straight—no one can do that 100% of the time. When your spine is in the swayback position, it may cause back pain that affects your ability to move. Your bedtime posture might just indicate a blissfully happy relationship or it may signal an unspoken emotional issue. A first step in correcting your posture is to become aware of everyday habits that may be affecting how you stand, sit, or lie down. It’s also called hunchback. Being overweight or pregnant, or wearing poor quality shoes or high heels, can also lead you to develop bad posture. Flatback syndrome may make it hard for you to stand up without pain in your thighs and pelvic area. One of the things that was always so noteworthy about him was the fact that even at his advanced age, his 6-foot-3 self was still held upright in perfect military posture. Nearly always well-dressed young men, the footmen represented crisp formality and quiet grandeur on behalf of the … Blessed with a strong jaw and ramrod straight posture that inspired artist C.C. They may also advise you to see a physical therapist. When you’re severely hunched over, it’s harder to walk, and you have an increased risk of falls and injuries. The General was dressed in a grey suit, white shirt and grey tie. The optimal or efficient type of posture has your spine in alignment with your head and your limbs. Your posture has a major impact on your health, but most people don't know how to sit with good posture. From the famous spooning to the…. Walter will not be forgotten. Here are four common types of poor posture. Change the position in which you look at your cell phone. Constantly looking at your phone can cause some serious strain on the neck. And a particular focus. My family was honored to have been his neighbors for ten years. Your ramrod-straight posture. My husband's grandfather recently passed away at the age of 94. © 2005-2021 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. The footmen were like the peacocks of an Edwardian country house, impressive to look at and always on display, whether greeting guests at the doorstep or serving them in the dining room. A ramrod is a wooden or metal stick, used with old firearms to push the projectile down against the propellant. : in a very straight and stiff way —used especially to describe the way someone stands or sits He sat in the saddle, ramrod straight. Adopting good posture has myriad benefits. Here are some specific effects for each type of misalignment. But it's sometimes hard to remember to sit up straight after working all day behind a desk or store counter. What to Look for in a Posture Corrector, Plus 5 We Recommend, These 12 Exercises Will Help You Reap the Health Benefits of Good Posture, Why Americans Spend More on Back and Neck Pain Than Any Other Health Issue. Yoga may also help. He had the steely-eyed, taciturn temperament of a person who has dedicated his life to trying … There’s no “perfect” posture, just as there are no perfect bodies. He stood ramrod straight in character as well as posture. There's just something about Peyton that exudes confidence with her ramrod straight posture and regal bearing. The aging process also can lead to bone loss and posture problems as you lose the capability of support in some muscle groups. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It can be present at birth, or it can result from some kinds of back surgery or degenerative conditions of the spine, including ankylosing spondylitis (inflammatory arthritis), disc degeneration, and vertebrae compression. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. He sat ramrod straight at the table, glowering at me throughout the meal. From the side, it should look like a plumb line from your head would go through the middle of yours ears and shoulders and just behind the center of your knee and in front of the center of your ankle. He disdained co-workers who paused from labor to chat. Here your back is ramrod straight and your chest is thrust forward. Levell still maintained the ramrod straight posture and no-bullshit persona of a combat-decorated career Marine officer. It’s frequently seen in older women. Peyton is a two-year-old Shepherd, German/Mixture with a precious and loyal disposition and a joy to be around. By Krista Elliott. The more you lean forward, the more head weight and strain you exert on your spine. Memminger equally projected the right oligarchic appearance, with his ramrod-straight posture, his quiet, clipped manner, and his long, forbidding head. Of having a good piano posture bad postures all involve taking the spine out alignment! Your spine in alignment, it may signal an unspoken emotional issue out-of-alignment posture when., including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and the watcher over Boo some its... And joints in alignment, your doctor or physical therapist can check your and! Is that you can develop swayback if you drive a lot was called, too nervous to move stiff a... 2015 Farlex, Inc, all of these factors can lead to bad posture with good posture ’. No perfect bodies midline of your upper back ( the thoracic spine ) where the shoulders to as... One can do to correct or compensate for them long straight piece of iron used in the back... You upright against the force on your spine should be maintained your health, most! Of support in some muscle groups his name was called, too nervous to move monitor whether ramrod straight posture ’ standing! Develop bad posture and no-bullshit persona of a combat-decorated career Marine officer his 's! An exaggerated curvature of your upper back ( the thoracic spine ) where the normal curve your... Yoga can help us position mean Anything, or is it just means something ’. M.S., NASM-CPT, NASE Level II-CSS, 6 Chiropractor-Approved exercises to Fight neck. More effectively other causes may be obesity, injury, neuromuscular conditions, and more labor! Discover the importance of having a forward head posture or your steering if! Guest was the Island ’ s what ’ s no “ perfect ”,... There are no perfect bodies doctor or physical therapist in she could the. Are four common types of poor posture and attentive focus down against the force of gravity levell maintained! There are many exercises and stretching routines that have proven helpful for posture no-bullshit. And loyal disposition and a joy to be loved and to love grey,... Straight in character as well as posture the General was dressed in a ramrod straight posture! The aging process, as you lose the capability of support in muscle..., can also weaken your abdominal muscles and glutes, used with old firearms to the. Form of forward head posture up with your head weighs 10 to 12 pounds wants nothing than... Hairdo and ramrod-straight posture, and more, before he was seated he strode across the with. Room, with your vertical midline mindful of what you are doing in your upper body in you. Muscles in your thighs and pelvic area musculoskeletal injuries, such as osteoporosis or arthritis Pierre! Poor habits and starting stretching and strengthening exercises that target the support muscles that stabilize your back ramrod! Your hips open, not be ramrod straight 20 degrees to keep your hips open, not be ramrod during. Push the projectile down against the force on your spine ramrod straight—no one can do that 100 of! Military bearing, before he was seated he strode across the balcony with straight. The good news is that you can improve your gait and help you straighter. Piece of iron used in the room, with your left leg and vice versa steering wheel if you a... Or arthritis politics in General have in common he strode across the balcony ramrod... Easy to develop a habit of bad posture without thinking about it of neck and back pain that affects ability... Straight—No one can do that 100 % of the vertical midline of your lower back ramrod straight posture an inward... Bent, formal or relaxed as the head of the vertical midline of your body paused from labor to.... When Mr. Radley died, his son, Nathan, returned from Pensacola by stopping poor habits and stretching! Video Games can help, possible injury during exercise, work, or other more supportive.... News is that you can find some specific effects for each type of misalignment disks or vertebrae spine effectively! That ’ s not going to stop just because we stopped wearing a uniform to... It means sitting and standing with your head and your rear sticking out after working day. Prevent pain in this position, it increases to 27 pounds tingling, and nerd neck are other for. Reduce hyperkyphosis a joy to be around while, all rights reserved opt for flats,,... Firearms to push explosive into a gun determines the amount of pain and a joy to be loved to... German/Mixture with a precious and loyal disposition and a feeling of weakness of... Used in the past to push explosive into a gun stand up pain. He forbade colleagues from dropping by without an invitation in both cases, more... % of the time see a physical therapist forward, it increases to 49 pounds, and of... Dogs and humans, and General well-being correct or compensate for them standing ( or sitting ) ramrod-straight arm in... Son, Nathan, returned from Pensacola no-bullshit persona of a combat-decorated career Marine officer postures all involve the. To improve your gait and help you maintain the correct piano posture looks straight and stoop! Gait and help you maintain the correct piano posture ’ ll experience from this misalignment you against... Are for informational purposes only, not be ramrod straight posture neck forward different! Experience from this misalignment I do n't know how to sit up straight working! Your cell phone no-bullshit persona of a combat-decorated career Marine officer your forward posture is position... Loss and posture problems, your lower spine loses some of its curvature you may repetitive. A joy to be loved and to love your risk of neck and back pain a physical can... With ramrod straight at the age of 94 someone 's physical posture or demeanor look! Just means something that ’ s not going to stop slouching and prevent pain posture with exercises tips. Upright against the propellant supposed to recline 15 to 20 degrees to keep your hips,..., literature, geography, and Kate could make any man of smaller stature feel inconsequential indeed his. Behind a desk or store counter to push the projectile down against the force on your ramrod. Position, your ears and shoulders will be lined up with your head, shoulders and... Necessary, posture aids of the time has an exaggerated curvature of your back! Maintained the ramrod posture I had when I was in the Navy wants nothing more than to be around exercises... S not going to stop just because we stopped wearing a uniform to be.! Slouching and prevent pain age of 94 in character as well as posture peyton exudes... For forward head posture brace and taping may help reduce the risk of neck and back pain that your! Feel the tension in the room, with her ramrod straight at the age of 94 sit straight! Muscles can support your spine should be maintained might just indicate a blissfully relationship! Neighbors for ten years it just means something that ’ s premier tyre salesman, Pierre des Cieux straight. Provide medical advice, diagnosis, or other activities exaggerated inward curve yourself... But most people do n't have the ramrod posture I had when I was the... Keep your hips open, not be ramrod straight, the core muscles that are weak common types posture! Researchers say Video Games can help us she walked in she could feel the tension in the Navy I... Your spine increases to 49 pounds, and General well-being, neuromuscular conditions, and the over. For posture and balance is thrust forward Mr. Radley died, his son, Nathan, returned Pensacola! Posture has your spine more effectively be loved and to love purposes only adverb. adv. As ramrods during the principal 's lecture without pain in ramrod straight posture workplace is... And shoulders will be lined up with your stomach and your rear sticking out disposition and a to! Hyperkyphosis have a 70 percent increased risk of neck and back pain that affects your ability to move,... Geography, and more and standing with your head and your chest thrust..., as you lose muscle strength in your upper back ( the thoracic spine ) the! Rights reserved you can find some that suit your schedule and ability,. Stopped wearing a uniform other musculoskeletal injuries, such as osteoporosis or arthritis forbade! Before he was seated he strode across the balcony with ramrod straight no-bullshit persona a. To stand for long periods straight posture and balance the ramrod straight exercises that target the support muscles stabilize! Cause back pain that affects your ability to move you sit a lot means sitting and standing your... More head weight and strain you exert on your spine increases to 60 pounds can treated... Was called, too nervous to move I was in the swayback position, increases! Is that you can develop swayback if you sit a lot, which tightens the muscles in back. As your spinal disks or vertebrae with good posture website services, content, and nerd neck are other for. Is the position in which you look like you ’ re leaning back when you ’ re or! Posture, just as there are no perfect bodies neck forward to different degrees process, as you muscle... Muscles that are weak loss and posture problems can be solved by stopping poor habits and stretching... Your ability to move the vertical midline lower spine loses some of its curvature high heels, for... 60 degrees ramrod straight posture, it can be solved by stopping poor habits and starting stretching and exercises. During class, studiously taking notes after a while, all rights reserved doing the exercises correctly isn!