List of human positions

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The human body is capable of a wide variety of positions, as exemplified by this energetic yoga position, "astavakrasana". Yoga (9704376297).jpg
The human body is capable of a wide variety of positions, as exemplified by this energetic yoga position, "astavakrasana".

Human positions refer to the different physical configurations that the human body can take. There are several synonyms that refer to human positioning, often used interchangeably, but having specific nuances of meaning. [1]

Contents

Basic positions

While not moving, a human is usually in one of the following basic positions:

All-fours

This is the static form of crawling which is a form of locomotion instinctive in very young children. It was a commonly used childbirth position in both Western and non-Western cultures, in which context it is known as the Gaskin Maneuver. [3] This position is sometimes viewed as sexually explicit due to its association with sexual initiation or availability. [4]

Kneeling

Inner two vertical kneeling. Outer two squatting/kneeling. Four jockeys kneeling in the grass in front of a stable, Washington State (4951163393).jpg
Inner two vertical kneeling. Outer two squatting/kneeling.

Kneeling is a basic human position where one or both knees touch the ground. It is used as a resting position, during childbirth and as an expression of reverence and submission. While kneeling, the angle between the legs can vary from zero to widely splayed out, flexibility permitting. It is common to kneel with one leg and squat with the other leg. [5]

While kneeling, the thighs and upper body can be at various angles in particular:

Lying

Jupiter et Antiope, by Antoine Watteau Watteau Jupiter und Antiope Detail.jpg
Jupiter et Antiope, by Antoine Watteau

When in lying position, the body may assume a great variety of shapes and positions. The following are the basic recognized positions:

Sitting

Paul Cezanne portrait of a man in a sitting position Paysan assis, par Paul Cezanne.jpg
Paul Cézanne portrait of a man in a sitting position

Sitting requires the buttocks resting on a more or less horizontal structure, such as a chair or the ground. Special ways of sitting are with the legs horizontal, and in an inclined seat. While on a chair the shins are usually vertical, on the ground the shins may be crossed in the lotus position or be placed horizontally under the thigh in a seiza.

Squatting or crouching

Squatting is a posture where the weight of the body is on the feet (as with standing) but the knees and hips are bent. In contrast, sitting, involves taking the weight of the body, at least in part, on the buttocks against the ground or a horizontal object such as a chair seat. The angle between the legs when squatting can vary from zero to widely splayed out, flexibility permitting. Squatting may be either:

Crouching is usually considered to be synonymous with full squatting. It is common to squat with one leg and kneel with the other leg. [5] One or both heels may be up when squatting. Young children often instinctively squat. Among Chinese, Southeast Asian, and Eastern European adults, squatting often takes the place of sitting or standing. [6]

Standing

Standing couple, January 1873 ModernEgypt, Khedive Tawfiq, DHP13401-1-1 01.jpg
Standing couple, January 1873

Although quiet standing appears to be static, modern instrumentation shows it to be a process of rocking from the ankle in the sagittal plane. The sway of quiet standing is often likened to the motion of an inverted pendulum. [7] There are many mechanisms in the body that are suggested to control this movement, e.g. a spring action in muscles, higher control from the nervous system or core muscles.

Although the posture is not dangerous in itself, there are pathologies associated with prolonged intervals of unrelieved standing. One short-term condition is orthostatic hypotension, and long-term conditions are sore feet, stiff legs, and low back pain.

Some variations of standing are:

Contexts

Asanas

Certain asanas postures were originally intended primarily to restore and maintain a practitioner's well-being, to improve the body's flexibility and vitality, and to promote the ability to remain in seated meditation for extended periods.

Atypical positions

Atypical positions are common to break dancing, gymnastics, and yoga, and may include:

The human body can be suspended in various stable positions, where the support is above the center of gravity. The positioning may be voluntary or involuntary.

Childbirth positions

In addition to the lithotomy position still commonly used by many obstetricians, childbirth positions that are successfully used by midwives and traditional birth-attendants the world over include squatting, standing, kneeling, and on all fours, often in a sequence. [3]

Dance positions

Classical ballet position KC Ballet Swan Lake 2 (24931683832).jpg
Classical ballet position

Dance position is a position of a dancer or a mutual position of a dance couple assumed during a dance. Describing and mastering proper dance positions is an important part of dance technique.

Eating positions

People sharing a meal in Uzbekistan Hayat-02.JPG
People sharing a meal in Uzbekistan

Eating positions vary in different regions of the world, as culture strongly influences the way people eat their meals. For example, in most of the Middle Eastern countries, eating while sitting on the floor is most common, and it is believed to be healthier than eating while sitting at a table. [8] [9]

Eating in a reclining position was favored by the Ancient Greeks at a celebration they called a symposium, and this custom was adopted by the Ancient Romans. [10] Ancient Hebrews also adopted this posture for traditional celebrations of a Passover Seder, to symbolize freedom. [11] The biblical prophet Amos associates "those who recline at banquets" with the false sense of security among the Israelites whom he is warning to repent. [12]

Heat escape lessening position

The heat escape lessening position (HELP) is a way to position oneself to reduce heat loss in cold water. It is taught as part of the curriculum in Australia, North America, and Ireland for lifeguard and boating safety training. It essentially involves positioning one's knees together and hugging them close to the chest using one's arms.

Medical positions

The knee-chest position Herself; talks with women concerning themselves (1911) (14781210692).jpg
The knee-chest position

The following positions are specifically used in medicine:

Recovery position

The recovery position or coma position refers to one of a series of variations on a lateral recumbent or three-quarters prone position of the body, into which an unconscious but breathing casualty can be placed as part of first aid treatment.

Resting positions

A large number of resting positions are possible, based on variations of sitting, squatting, kneeling or lying. [5]

Riding positions

A "straddle" or "astride" position is usually adopted when riding a horse, donkey, or other beast of burden, with or without the aid of a saddle. The position is also used for sitting on analogous vehicles, such as bicycles, motorcycles, or unicycles, and on furniture, such as certain types of seating, and bidets. The posture is also used on some types of specialized workbenches (such as a shaving horse). By definition, an essential feature is having one leg on each side of whatever is being straddled. The related sidesaddle position allows riding without straddling, but is somewhat less secure against accidental dismounting or falling.

The straddle posture is often intermediate between standing and sitting positions, allowing body weight to be supported securely, while also affording a high degree of upper body mobility and dynamic balance during vigorous or extended motions.

Sex positions

Sex positions are positions which people may adopt during or for the purpose of sexual intercourse or other sexual activities. Sexual acts are generally described by the positions the participants adopt in order to perform those acts.

Shooting positions

Sleeping positions

The sleeping position is the body configuration assumed by a person during or prior to sleeping. Six basic sleeping positions have been identified:[ dubious discuss ]

Stress positions

Stress positions place the human body in such a way that a great amount of weight is placed on just one or two muscles and joints. Forcing prisoners to adopt such positions is a method of ill-treatment used for extracting information or as a punishment, possibly amounting to torture. Such positions also are sometimes used as a punishment for children.

Submissive positions

Submissive positions are often ceremonial and dictated by culture. They may be performed as a mutual sign of respect between equals or as a sign of submission to a higher-ranking individual or to a ceremonial object.

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squatting position</span> Resting posture where the weight of the body is on the feet but the knees and hips are bent

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References

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  2. Fritz Wittels (1995). Freud and the Child Woman: The Memoirs of Fritz Wittels. Yale University Press. p. 49. ISBN   978-0-300-06485-8.
  3. 1 2 G.J. Engelmann (1883). Labor Among Primitive Peoples, St. Louis: J.H. Chambers. pp, 89-93. (Engelmann calls this the knee-hand or knee-elbow position)
  4. Sacomori, Cinara; Fernando Luiz Cardoso (2010). "Sexual initiative and intercourse behavior during pregnancy among Brazilian women: a retrospective study". Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. 36 (2): 124–136. doi:10.1080/00926230903554503. PMID   20169493. S2CID   46717809.
  5. 1 2 3 Hewes, GW (April 1955). "World distribution of certain postural habits". American Anthropologist. 57 (2): 231–44. doi: 10.1525/aa.1955.57.2.02a00040 . JSTOR   666393.
  6. Dobrzynski, Judith H. (17 October 2004). "An Eye on China's Not So Rich and Famous". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  7. Gage, W. H.; Winter, D. A.; Frank, J. S.; Adkin, A. L. (2004). "Kinematic and kinetic validity of the inverted pendulum model in quiet standing". Gait & Posture. 19 (2): 124–132. doi:10.1016/S0966-6362(03)00037-7. PMID   15013500.
  8. Donovan, Sandy (2010). The Middle Eastern American Experience. United States: Twenty-First Century Books. p. 68. ISBN   9780761363613.
  9. Brito, Leonardo Barbosa Barreto de; Ricardo, Djalma Rabelo; Araújo, Denise Sardinha Mendes Soares de; Ramos, Plínio Santos; Myers, Jonathan; Araújo, Claudio Gil Soares de (13 December 2012). "Ability to sit and rise from the floor as a predictor of all-cause mortality". European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 21 (7): 892–898. doi:10.1177/2047487312471759. ISSN   2047-4873. PMID   23242910. S2CID   9652533.
  10. "The Roman Banquet". The Met. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  11. "Reclining". A Virtual Passover. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  12. Amos 6:7
  13. Lore, Marybeth (March 2017). "Umbilical Cord Prolapse and Other Cord Emergencies". The Global Library of Women's Medicine. doi:10.3843/GLOWM.10136.
  14. "knee-chest position". Thefreedictionary.com. The Free Dictionary Medical Dictionary.

Further reading