Adult health

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Take the wall test

To test your standing posture, take the wall test. Stand with your head, shoulder blades and buttocks touching a wall, and your heels about two to four inches (five to 10 centimeters) away from the wall. Reach back and slide your hand behind the curve in your lower back, with your palm flat against the wall.

Ideally, you'll feel about one hand's thickness of space between your back and the wall. If there's too much space, tighten your abdominal muscles to flatten the curve in your back. If there's too little space, arch your back so that your hand fits comfortably behind you. Walk away from the wall while maintaining this posture. Keep it up throughout your daily activities.

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2. Kell C. Posture and balance. In: Everett T, et al. Human Movement: An Introductory Text. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2010:61.
3. Muscolino JE. Kinesiology: The Skeletal System and Muscle Function. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011:601.
4. Armiger P, et al. Stretching for Functional Flexibility. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2010:171.
5. Underwood DB (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 19, 2011.