How's Your Posture?
By Paul Rothbart
Eat your vegetables. Study hard in school. Stand up straight. These are three classic pieces of motherly advice. Cliche though they may be, they are all helpful to follow. Good nutrition is important to health and a good education is a key to success. What about posture? Is it really that important? Yes, in fact, it is. Posture can impact how you appear to others, how you feel about yourself, and also have an impact on health. Good posture also helps keep your spine straight, as does visiting a chiropractor. Taken together, this is an excellent way to prevent back and neck pain, as well as tension headaches.
The Importance of Good Posture
Standing and sitting straight presents an appearance of confidence that you just can't get when you slouch. It keeps the head up and allows eye contact. Inside, you tend to feel stronger, braver, and more confident. But it goes beyond appearances. Keeping the back straight and the head up places the vertebrae in their optimal position. This enables muscles to work more efficiently, preventing strain and overwork. With less stress on ligaments, risk of injury is significantly reduced. Research has found that poor posture can cause stress and even depression.
Maintaining Good Posture
As with most things, the first step to maintaining good posture is developing an awareness of how you stand and sit. The back should always be straight, with the shoulders back. When sitting, keep both feet flat on the floor. Swinging them or placing them on the chair will adversely affect posture in the upper and lower body. Keep the head up and eyes straight forward. When standing, the knees should be slightly bent and the arms relaxed. This will all eventually become automatic.
Chiropractic Care Helps Posture
Regular visits to the chiropractor are one of the best things you can do for posture. The chiropractor will find any subluxations and correct them. The entire spine from the neck down will be positioned properly, which will make it easier to practice good posture. Any joint issues will also be corrected. This will prevent pain and allow the limbs to fall naturally into proper positions. Regular chiropractic care may also lessen anxiety and stress, as well as improve sleep. When you feel better, you tend to stand straighter.
The importance of good posture is not opinion. It is beneficial in multiple ways. It is certainly worth the little effort it takes to practice good posture consistently. Consider paying a visit to The Joint Chiropractic. No appointment is needed and a licensed chiropractor will perform an exam and make any necessary adjustments. It can help maintain good posture and good health.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Baton Rouge, La.