Tips for Better Posture

By Randi Morse 

It's easy to see when someone has good posture versus when someone does not. We're often told when growing up that we need to have good posture, but why is that? Does good posture have anything to do with your health? And how can you make sure that you display good posture? 

What Is It? 

We all know the word posture means to sit, stand, or lay in a specific way. Good posture is the phrase we use when all the body parts are correctly aligned. You may not even realize when you have good posture. It's not something we tend to consciously maintain, our body often does it for us. The ligaments and muscles, especially those in the back and the hamstrings, are the core muscles that keep your body strong. These ligaments and muscles help to hold the body together. They connect to the spine which is the main support for our entire bodily system. 

Is It Important? 

When you display good posture you are sitting, walking, standing, or laying in such a way that the least amount of strain is put on those very important ligaments and muscles. When you display correct posture, you allow your muscles to work efficiently. When something works efficiently, it requires less energy, so when you have correct posture you are enabling your body to use your energy stores more efficiently. Having the correct posture also helps to keep our joints in the spine aligned correctly. When those joints become misaligned, you are much more prone to injury and pain. 

How to Have Good Posture 

• If you have bad posture, there are some things that you can do to improve the way you sit, stand, and lay down. 
• Keep your feet on the floor. If they don't reach the floor, use a footrest. 
• Your ankles should always be in the front of your knees, which is why crossing your legs is not encouraged if you're looking for good posture. 
• Make sure your shoulders are relaxed. 
• When you're sitting, there should be a gap between the seat and the back of your knees. 
• Make sure you move around. Sitting in one position for a long amount of time isn't good for your body, even if you have perfect posture. 

Making these changes can seem difficult; after all, you've likely been displaying your bad habits for a long time. Changing your posture, however, can be a great way to help prevent injuries and muscle strains. 

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Fort Worth, Tex.