We know that posture can convey our emotional state, but did you know that habitual posture can be predicted based on our personality?
Scientific research by renowned professional sports psychologist and posture specialist Dr. Sylvain Guimond, D.O. Ph.D., confirms a strong link between posture and personality. The study confirms that a person with an ideal or natural posture had more relaxed muscles, while a person with a non-ideal posture tended to experience more back and neck pain. This is because our muscled have to actively work to keep the body in an unnatural posture.
Working with Dr. Guimond, we put this research into practice to develop the Essentia ID assessment. Our Classic REM5 and Dormeuse REM9 performance mattresses are available in 2 support options: Mid-Contour or Fior-Contour. By completing this assessment we can then match you with the support option that will best suit your body and offer the most optimal sleep surface for you to experience uninterrupted Deep Sleep and REM sleep cycles.
Capitalize on the Power of Sleep
The goal of the Essentia ID assessment is to identify your personality which in turn identifies your posture. Once your posture is identified, we can match you with the proper support for your back.
Posture can change over time, you should answer as it relates to you today. This assessment will take 2 minutes or less. Questions will evaluate various aspects of your personality by eliciting information about your thoughts, opinions, traits, motivations, behavioral tendencies, and values. Be sure to choose the answer that first comes to mind and best identifies with you today.
The 4 Main Posture Types
Normal or Ideal
Considered the natural or healthy posture for your spine, Ideal posture means that your muscles tend to be more relaxed. Generally, you experience minimized risk of back pain or musculoskeletal discomfort when you are upright, but an unsupportive sleep surface can trigger discomfort when asleep. The goal for an ideal back is to maintain balanced support from shoulders to hips and just enough pressure relief to prevent pain.
Swayback
This posture results in an exaggerated spinal curve, generally meaning the spine curves inward at the lower back and neck area. A swayback posture can cause you to be unbalanced and force your lover back to work harder which then can cause back pain and discomfort. If a swayback isn’t properly supported during sleep, you may experience pain in the thighs, hips, lower back and/or neck. The proper support option will optimize pressure relief and fill in the gaps to properly support those vulnerable areas.
Kyphosis
One of the most common postures, Kyphosis means you may see a forward rounding of the upper back more than the natural curve o the spine. This can cause a slight or more pronounced hunch making you appear to be slouching. This posture also leads you to be more prone to back pain, stiffness, and rounded shoulders. At night it is important to properly support the upper back or shoulders, fill in the space at the lower back and support the quads.
Flat Back
It is normal for a spine to have a natural curve, the flat back posture however loses the lower curve and becomes flat. This can result in an imbalance with a tendency to lean forward resulting in trouble standing up straight or experiencing back and leg pain. If a flat back is not supported at night it can lead to pain in the lower back, hips, thigh and sometimes neck. This posture benefits most from an even support that keeps the back aligned with a touch of pressure relief. Flat back postures should avoid overly soft sleep surfaces.
