Is your posture causing your pain?
Posture and pain can be a viscous cycle. Poor posture causes pain which
causes worst posture and then worse pain.
The problem is that bad posture is taxing on your muscles and joints. Over
time this causes deterioration in your spine. The result is headaches, neck,
shoulder, and back pain.
Poor posture can be caused by a multitude of factors including:
- increased stress
- being overweight
- unsupportive footwear
- injury
- poor back support
- muscle weakness
- muscle tightness
- compensation for pain.
The position in which you sit or stand effects more than your look of poise
and confidence. The right body position and alignment makes sure your
body functions properly. This includes your muscles, bones, joints, and
even organs.
So how can we have better posture?
In sitting:
- head straight
- knees lower than hips
- shoulders back and relaxed
- feet flat on the floor
In standing:
- shoulders back with chest perpendicular to the floor
- chin parallel to the ground
- keep a slight bend in your knees
- keep feet about shoulder width apart
In both sitting and standing, be aware of and avoid unbalanced
postures such as crossing legs while sitting, leaning to one side,
hunching the shoulders forward, or tilting the head.
The best way to maintain a relaxed yet supported posture is to change
positions frequently.
If you follow these rules and correct your bad posture habits, you can
expect a healthier spine, less pain, and decreased stiffness over time.
However, if you don’t start to see and feel changes in a few days there
may be an underlying problem that won’t correct itself with awareness
and posture changes. A custom designed physical therapy program
will be able to correct the joint and muscle problems causing your pain.
Posture has a huge effect on your body including:
- musculoskeletal system
- balance
- digestion
- breathing
- self image
It is worth your time to address this problem quickly and efficiently with
the help of a posture and movement expert.
