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Let’s face it, “good posture” is something we all strive for, but it’s hard when routine activities throughout everyday life can put a strain on our posture. Things such as stress caused by working from home, fatigued muscles form the latest DIY project, the hours spent sitting slouched over gaming with the squad, and even our shoes, impact our body’s ability to achieve and maintain good posture. In fact, they actively work against this goal.
To maintain good posture, you need more than some gimmicky device sold in stores. You need to have balance, muscle flexibility and strength, and normal joint motion throughout the body, particularly the spine. This means you not only need to be aware of general health, nutritional and exercise considerations, you also be able to recognize and take action to correct postural and movement habits at work, home, and while on-the-go.
In the sections to follow we hope to educate you on the benefits and risks associated with bad posture, provide a few tips you can take action on today, and extend our hand to help you on your journey to achieving and maintaining good posture.
Good posture is more than just standing tall and looking your best, it’s an important part of your overall health and well-being. Posture is simply the body's position and alignment while at rest or in motion. In fact, did you know that there are actually two types of posture? Dynamic and static posture (mind blown, right?).
Achieving and maintaining good dynamic and static posture is important because poor posture can have a direct negative impact on our bodies, both physically and mentally. Although back pain is the most commonly associated with poor posture, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Poor posture can also cause or compound:
Like bad posture, good posture can also directly impact our quality of life, but for the better. Some of the many benefits of good posture include:
In a recent AARP article, chiropractor Dr. Cherese Scotton-Bratcher from The Joint Chiropractic stated good posture can contribute to better body functioning overall.
Don’t know about you, but the list of benefits seems way more conducive to everyday life than the alternative, but what can we do about that? Glad you asked.
One of the key components to good posture is the position of your spine and the body’s ability to function optimally.
As we get older, bad habits such as slouching and inactivity cause muscle fatigue and tension that ultimately lead to poor posture. And, while back problems are what most people associate with poor posture, those issues are just the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps you have one shoulder higher than the other or a tilted pelvis – over time, these imbalances can have a serious impact on the body’s central nervous system. That’s where chiropractic comes in. Chiropractors can help improve posture by adjusting the spine, strengthening the supporting muscles and soft tissue in the neck and upper back, and educating people on ways to maintain proper posture.
Posture can affect all areas of health; your susceptibility to injury, breathing, digestion, even nutrition to your brain
"Posture can affect all areas of health; your susceptibility to injury, breathing, digestion, even nutrition to your brain,” says Dr. Kevin Lees, manager of auditing and quality at The Joint Chiropractic. “Chiropractors specifically treat the spine, which not only may improve spinal symptoms, but also quality of life.”
Chiropractors deliver a gentle, non-invasive, non-addictive therapy, known as a chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic adjustments reduce joint restrictions or misalignments in the spine and other joints in the body, which in turn help to correct postural imbalance, reduce inflammation, and improve function of both the affected joint and nervous system. By correcting these postural imbalances, while at the same time encouraging your body to work more optimally, you and your body are able to better support good posture.
To see if chiropractic care is right for you, the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic will perform a consultation, examination and if necessary, refer you out for diagnostic imaging such as x-ray or MRI. Based on the findings of our chiropractic exam and consultation, your doctor of chiropractic may elect to co-treat your posture needs with other healthcare professionals including massage therapists, physical therapists or other primary care physicians.
To find a chiropractor near you and to learn more about how chiropractic care can help you achieve and maintain good posture, contact or visit one of our chiropractic offices today, to speak with one of our licensed doctors of chiropractic.
In addition to incorporating routine chiropractic care in support of proper spinal alignment and to limit postural imbalances, according to Harvard Health, you can improve your posture with these easy exercises.
A few simple lifestyle changes can improve your posture and reduce back and neck pain.
Tap the posture infographic below to view larger or download.
Sources
1. U.S. National Library of Medicine
2. Harvard Health
3. Sisters from AARP
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and posture. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.
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