The reason why you may not have been informed about how poor posture contributes to various dysfunctions and pain is primarily due to a lack of familiarity. Unfortunately, even many doctors struggle to connect the function of the feet to common knee, hip, and back pain. While your feet serve as the foundation for your body, the teachings of postural mechanics have largely been absent from medical school curricula since the 1950s. You'd be surprised by the perplexed expressions we encounter when we explain the link between foot mechanics and conditions such as TMJ pain and anxiety.

How on earth can anxiety be connected to your feet?

Renowned authors like Dr. Leon Chaitow have delved into the topic of how poor posture can lead to breathing pattern disorders. In his book "Multidisciplinary Approaches to Breathing Pattern Disorders" published by Churchill Livingstone, he explains that when the chest collapses, we tend to breathe using only the upper portion of our lungs instead of utilizing our diaphragm. This results in faster and shallower breathing, causing a drop in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our bloodstream. While a fingertip oxygen measuring device in the emergency room may indicate sufficient oxygen levels, there is inadequate CO2 to facilitate effective oxygen exchange between the blood and tissues, including the brain. As a result, feelings of faintness and anxiety can arise.

This phenomenon is commonly known as hyperventilation, and improving posture is crucial for enhancing breathing patterns and mitigating these symptoms.