Why It's Important to Sit Up Straight!
By Sara Butler
Your parents may have told you a lot of things as a kid that weren’t true as a way to get you to change your behavior, but one area they weren’t fibbing about was your posture. All that nagging to sit up straight was needed because your posture has a huge impact on your overall health. Here’s why your posture is so important and what you can do to help it get better.
In the Modern Age
The world today is full of technological wonders that make life a lot more convenient -- and sedentary, too. People spend hours upon hours sitting at their desk at work, or sitting at home, as they navigate electronic devices. During these times, good posture is as important as ever. In fact, the health of your spine depends on it! The chiropractors at The Joint can tell you that poor posture is one of the biggest contributors to back pain, but it’s not a foregone conclusion. There are things you can do to practice better posture.
Check Yourself
Stop what you’re doing right now and check your posture. Ask yourself these questions:
- Are you sitting in a chair that supports your lower back adequately?
- Does the backrest of your chair fit up against your spine in your lower back?
- Are your feet flat on the ground?
- Are your knees bent at a 90-degree angle?
- Are you sitting fully back in your chair?
- Are your hips evenly supporting your body weight?
- Are your shoulders rounded or hunched?
- Are your knees at the same level as your hips?
If your answer was no to any of these questions, then you may be putting stress and strain on your spine that can lead to back pain. In other words, you’re not practicing good posture!
How to Change
Changing a habit can be difficult, but with the help of the chiropractors at The Joint, you can have on-point posture in no time.
One of the best things you can do to correct your posture throughout the day is to take frequent breaks. Get up and move around at least once an hour to stretch and break the posture you’ve been in. Sitting in one position for too long can contribute to poor posture practices, so break it up. That’s the first and most effective step you can take.
If you have concerns about your posture or you’re experiencing back pain you think may be related to it, then come talk to a chiropractor at The Joint today.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Fort Worth, Tex.