The Foundation for Chiropractic Care Encourages Better Posture for Long-Term Spinal Health
A key component of health promotion is behavioral modification. In 2015, we are more understanding of how our behavior impacts our health status, yet many individuals do not take the steps to adjust their behavioral schemas. Part of this behavioral modification is the incorporation of preventative strategies to ensure that common morbidities and physiological problems do not arise in situations where we have control over our destiny.
With respect to our musculoskeletal health and the structural integrity of our spine, there are countless preventative tactics that we can incorporate. The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) has enacted an awareness campaign to promote good posture as a behavioral technique that wards off any spinal problems.
This campaign comes on the heels of a recently released report by the journal Surgical Technology International titled Assessments of Stresses in the Cervical Spine Caused by Posture and Positioning of the Head. The report highlights a variety problems that are caused by poor posture and improper positioning of the upper spine. Moreover, the report suggests that the increased use of technology, mainly digital devices, leads to extra weight and pressure placed on the spine, causing a depression in the upper spine and ultimately poor posture.
The extra stress and pressure placed on the upper spine by being immersed in technology and keeping the head down over long periods of time can cause unfortunate spinal complications. Neurological and skeletal degeneration are the primary results of poor neck posture and many of these instances will eventually require some sort of invasive surgery to correct.
The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress has formed a series of recommendations to promote good posture and to prevent these potential spinal hazards. By focusing on keeping the shoulders back, the head up, and the chin down while using digital devices, individuals can train their spines to eventually exhibit proper alignment without necessarily trying.
Overall, decreasing the amount of time when the head and neck are totally flexed can help as well. Finally, a visit to a chiropractic specialist can help individuals form proper posture habits with the input of a medical professional. Each individual is different and a posture assessment can yield different results on a case by case basis.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Florent Chretien