What does postural mean?
Postural is an adjective describing anything connected with the position or alignment of the body. It is especially common in medicine, physiotherapy, physical education, and fitness, where it refers to balance, body control, alignment, and the muscles that maintain an upright position. The phrase postural control, for example, means the ability to keep the body stable and properly positioned, often without conscious effort. Postural can also describe the treatment or improvement of a physical condition through improved positioning: postural drainage, for instance, uses particular body positions to help fluid move through the lungs. In general use, the word is more precise than simply saying bodily and has a clinical or professional tone. Its usefulness lies in drawing attention to how the structure and controlled movement of the body affect balance, comfort, and physical performance.
adjectiveRelating to or affecting the body's position, alignment, or balance.
- Relating to posture or to the body's position, alignment, or balance.
"The therapist designed a programme to improve her patient's postural control."
"Poor postural control can make it harder to remain steady while standing."
"Her postural alignment improved after months of physiotherapy."
Your body holds its balance automatically—until your postural control suddenly fails.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does postural come from?
Postural was formed in English from the noun posture and the adjective-forming suffix -al. Posture came through French from Latin postūra, a word based on positus, the past participle of ponere, meaning "to place." The same Latin root also underlies English words such as position and positive, while posture produced forms such as posturing and posturer.
Related word forms
How postural is actually used
A formal and technical adjective common in medicine, physiotherapy, ergonomics, physical education, fitness, and sports contexts.
Easily confused with postural
Postural is an adjective describing the body's position or balance, whereas posture is principally the noun naming that position or arrangement.