An Erect Position

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

A writer on health very justly condemns the habit of lounging, in which a large number of persons indulge, as injurious to health.' He says:—"An erect bodily attitude is of vastly more importance to health than is easily imagined. Crooked bodily positions, maintained for any length of time, are always injurious, whether in the sitting, standing, or lying posture, whether sleeping or walking. To sit with the body leaning forward on the stomach, or to one side, with the heels elevated to a level with the head, is not only in bad taste, but exceedingly detrimental to health. It cramps the stomach, presses the vital organs, interrupts the free motion of the :hest, and enfeebles the lunctions of the abdo-ninal and thoracic organs, and in fact, unba-ances the whole muscular system. Many :hildren become hunchbacked, or severely round-shouldered, by sleeping with the head raised on a high pillow. When a person finds it easier to sit or stand, or walk or sleep n a crooked position than a straight one, such a person may be sure his muscular system is badly deranged, and the more careful he is to preserve a straight, or upright position, and get back to nature again, the better."

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American