The Connection Between Posture and Pain

By Stepy Kamei

We all grew up being told to sit up straight and have proper posture -- but few of us really ever learned why having good posture is so important when it comes to our health. Are you aware of the strong connection between a person's posture and the amount of back and neck pain they may face on a daily basis? Yes, it turns out that sitting and standing up straight does more than check off a box on an etiquette checklist -- it can actually reduce your likelihood of developing acute or chronic back and neck pain! Keep on reading to learn more about the connection between posture and spine health, and how chiropractic adjustments can help improve both.

Better Posture, Better Health

Posture relates to how we hold and carry our bodies, whether we're walking, standing, sitting, or even lying down. When our posture during these activities is good, we aren't straining our muscles or spinal column.

Unfortunately, it's easy to fall into habits of poor posture. For instance, if we work in front of a computer, we may be craning our necks down and forward to see the screen. Or we may walk with a slouch without even realizing it. It's also possible that we may be sleeping on a pillow or mattress that doesn't fully support the curvature of the spinal column.

As you can imagine, these little posture mistakes can really add up over time. As we continue to strain our neck muscles to work on our screens, or sit or sleep on unsupportive furniture, we may be placing plenty of unnatural stress and strain on the muscles and joints along our upper and lower back. Over time, this can lead to inflammation in the joints, which translates to aches and pains all over the back, shoulders, and neck area.

Chiropractic Adjustments Can Help

Many people remain unaware of just how beneficial chiropractic care can be when it comes to reducing, and even preventing, posture-related pain issues. Chiropractic care is a natural and effective method of treating the body in a holistic manner. Essentially, chiropractors use only their hands in order to bring about better posture and reduce pain and discomfort throughout the body.

During a typical session of chiropractic, the practitioner will examine the spinal column, searching for any subluxations, or misalignments, along the spine. These misalignments can be caused by poor posture, and are a contributing factor to aches and pains throughout the upper and lower back. The chiropractor will then use manual manipulation techniques in order to gently yet effectively correct these misalignments and relieve pressure from the spinal column. In the short term, this often reduces pain and discomfort for the patient. However, a welcome long-term benefit from chiropractic adjustments is overall improved posture and reduced muscle tension and joint stiffness.

Come on in to The Joint Chiropractic today to see how regular chiropractic adjustments can help improve your overall health and well-being!

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