[Senior Awareness Survey] 80.7% Willing to Improve Posture, but Nearly 30% "Do Nothing"; Cosmo Lab Conducts Major Survey on Posture (Stoop/Kyphosis) Among 958 Seniors

Cosmo Lab (Company: Cosmo Health Co., Ltd., HQ: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Takashi Kozuka), a marketing platform specializing in seniors, has released a report on its questionnaire research concerning seniors' 'Posture (Stooped/Rounded Back)'.

This report surveyed individuals aged 50 and over about their awareness of the term "enpai" (kyphosis), self-assessment of their posture, causes of posture deterioration, its effects on their body and mind, inconveniences in daily life, and their intention to work on posture improvement. Based on responses from 958 individuals, the survey revealed how age-related posture changes are linked not only to appearance but also to functional living and future anxieties.

Survey Topics

◆ Awareness of Kyphosis is Not Yet Widespread
73.2% of respondents 'did not know' the term "enpai," far exceeding the 17.1% who 'knew' it. This indicates that the official term for this condition and its associated risks are not yet commonly understood by the general public.

◆ Muscle Weakness and Lack of Exercise Underlie Posture Concerns
When asked about the perceived causes of their own posture deterioration, 'muscle weakness (core, back, glutes, etc.)' was the top answer (66.9%), followed by 'lack of exercise' (48.3%) and 'feeling it's due to aging' (45.3%). Posture problems are recognized as being strongly linked to a decline in daily physical activity, not just age.

◆ High Motivation for Improvement, Significant Room for Practical Support
When asked if they would like to work on improving their posture in the future, 80.7% responded affirmatively, combining 'strongly agree' (44.6%) and 'somewhat agree' (36.1%). On the other hand, regarding current measures, 'not doing anything in particular' was also high at 29.6%, indicating a significant number of people are interested but have not taken concrete action.

1: "Enpai" (kyphosis) refers to a posture where the back becomes rounded with age. Did you know this term? (n=958)
The majority, 73.2%, 'did not know' the term 'enpai,' followed by 17.1% who 'knew' it and 9.7% who 'had heard of it but didn't know the details.' While the change in posture itself is a familiar issue, few understand it by its specific term. This result suggests that many people are in a pre-awareness stage, not yet recognizing their posture deterioration as a risk. For raising awareness, it may be more effective to connect the issue with changes in appearance and movement rather than starting with technical explanations.

2: What do you think about your own posture? (n=958)
'I think it's not very good' was the most common response (31.2%), followed by 'I think it's fairly good' (26.0%) and 'I think it's bad' (16.6%). While there is a mix of positive and negative assessments, overall, those feeling anxious about their posture are in the majority. A key characteristic is a large segment of people who feel a vague sense of unease that their posture is 'somehow not good,' even if they don't think it's extremely bad. For this group, an information design that helps verbalize daily discomfort to prompt action may be more effective than strong warnings.

3: What are the reasons you feel your posture is good? (Multiple answers allowed) (n=351)
Among those who feel their posture is good, 'I have a habit of being conscious of my posture' stood out at 74.1%, followed by 'I frequently do stretches and exercise' (38.2%) and 'I am careful about how I sit and stand' (31.1%). The feeling of having good posture is supported by daily awareness and the accumulation of small habits. It's understood that good posture is a result of conscious actions, not just constitution or youth. This implies that the key to improvement lies in how to adopt 'sustainable daily habits' rather than special methods.

4: What do you think are the causes? (Multiple answers allowed) (n=607)
The most cited cause for feeling one's posture is worsening was 'muscle weakness (core, back, glutes, etc.)' (66.9%), followed by 'lack of exercise' (48.3%), 'feeling it's due to aging' (45.3%), and 'a lifestyle of being in the same position for long hours' (41.0%). Posture deterioration is understood in conjunction with changes in physical function and lifestyle, rather than just aging itself. This result shows that the issue of posture is not simply dismissed as 'it can't be helped because of age.' Because the decline in muscle strength and activity level is strongly recognized as the cause, practical suggestions like exercise, core care, and reviewing long periods in the same posture are more likely to be found convincing.

5: When did you start noticing age-related posture deterioration? (n=607)
The age people started noticing posture deterioration was most commonly 'before their 50s' (33.4%), followed by 'around 60-65 years old' (26.7%) and 'around 66-70 years old' (16.1%). This shows that posture changes are gradually noticed from middle to older age, rather than starting suddenly in old age. Unlike issues like memory or physical strength decline, which are often noticed abruptly upon becoming a senior, posture is a problem where discomfort accumulates from a relatively early stage. It seems important to present preventive information not just for the elderly, but as preparation starting from one's 50s.

6: Have you experienced any negative effects on your body or mind due to age-related posture deterioration? (Multiple answers allowed) (n=607)
The most common negative effect was 'finding it hard to go up and down stairs' (38.1%), followed by 'back/waist feeling stiff and hard to move when waking up or getting up' (32.6%), and 'clothes don't fit well / concerned about my posture in photos' (29.2%). Poor posture leads to difficulties in both movement and appearance. It is noteworthy that the effects extend beyond physical function decline to include impacts on photo appearance and how clothes fit. The combination of daily inconvenience and aesthetic discomfort can make posture problems deeper and more prolonged, which in turn can strengthen the motivation for improvement.

7: Are you doing anything to improve your posture? (Multiple answers allowed) (n=601)
Regarding current measures against posture deterioration, 'stretching (chest, shoulders, back, etc.)' was the highest at 49.1%, while 'not doing anything in particular' was also prominent at 29.6%. 'Regular exercise (yoga, Pilates, walking, etc.)' (25.5%) and 'strength training (back, core, glutes, etc.)' (24.0%) were limited to a certain number. Efforts are concentrated on easy-to-start stretching, while the number of people progressing to continuous exercise or strength training is still limited. There may be barriers such as not knowing where to start or lacking the confidence to continue, despite being interested.

8: In the future, would you like to do something to improve your posture or maintain your current posture for as long as possible? (n=958)
The necessity for posture improvement efforts reached 80.7%, combining 'strongly think so' (44.6%) and 'somewhat think so' (36.1%), showing a very high motivation for posture improvement and maintenance. 'Don't really think so' (5.3%) and 'don't think so at all' (0.8%) were in the minority. The fact that motivation is higher than actual action suggests that the topic of posture is in a state where people are 'ready to act once they become aware.' This means it is at a stage where providing easy-to-start content and proposals with clearly imaginable effects, rather than complex theories, can easily lead to actual behavior.

9 & 10: From the following, please choose the columns about "enpai (kyphosis: a posture where the back becomes rounded with age)" that you would like to read. (Multiple answers allowed) (n=958)
The topic that garnered the most interest was 'Tips for Preventing Kyphosis: 5-Minute Daily Stretches & Core Training' (66.8%), followed by 'Does Improving Kyphosis Also Help Prevent the Need for Nursing Care? Reasons Why It Reduces Future Risks of Falls and Becoming Bedridden' (40.8%), and 'What is 'Kyphosis' in the First Place? Differences from a Stoop and Lifestyle Habits That Worsen It' (37.3%). Practicality and alleviating future anxieties are strong points of interest. The desired topics focus on 'immediate prevention,' 'preparing for the future,' and 'checking one's own condition' rather than expert knowledge itself. For the topic of posture, it is important not only to provide difficult medical explanations but also to clearly show easy-to-implement measures in daily life and their connection to future risks.

Overall Assessment
This survey revealed that for seniors, posture problems are not just about appearance but are a broad theme related to physical function, confidence, and difficulties in daily life. Despite this, 73.2% did not know the term "enpai," indicating that while they feel the problem itself, it is not sufficiently recognized by name or as a risk.
In self-assessments of posture, negative responses were dominant, with top causes being 'muscle weakness (core, back, glutes, etc.)' (66.9%), 'lack of exercise' (48.3%), and 'feeling it's due to aging' (45.3%). This suggests that posture deterioration is understood not merely as a phenomenon of aging but as a result of a decline in the body's supporting strength and daily activity levels.
Furthermore, as for negative effects, 'lower back pain' (58.0%) and 'stiff shoulders' (45.5%) were high, but 'lacking confidence due to concern about poor posture' (38.4%) also ranked high. In terms of daily life, the issue extends to actions like going up and down stairs and getting up, as well as aesthetic discomforts like how clothes look and appearance in photos, showing that posture problems affect both the physical and psychological aspects.
On the other hand, the motivation for improvement is very high, with 80.7% thinking they 'would like to work on it in the future.' Nevertheless, current measures are centered on 'stretching (chest, shoulders, back, etc.)' (49.1%), and a significant number are 'not doing anything in particular' (29.6%). There is a gap between motivation and practice, calling for an easily accessible starting point.
In summary, for the theme of posture (stooped/rounded back), it is more important to present in stages 'why it happens,' 'what negative effects it has,' and 'what can be done starting today,' rather than just conveying a sense of crisis. Organizing the theme to connect with muscle strength, habits, appearance, and even nursing care prevention, and presenting it with actionable proposals that can be implemented immediately, will lead to understanding and behavioral change among seniors.