Posture And Health: Your Mother Complained About Your Bad Posture For A Reason
Due to changes in our lifestyle, more and more people are suffering from back and neck pain due to poor posture. As we become more sedentary and suffer from the dreaded “tech neck” (IE: slouching as we look down at our phones or computer screens), we’re seeing an increase in poor posture and back pain. But beyond just pain, your posture and health go hand-in-hand. It’s not just a statement of your self-esteem or tendencies – posture is also an indicator of your health.
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When your body is out of alignment, your joints, muscles, organs and bones are all gravely impacted. That shoulder shrug you’ve developed from sitting at a computer for work isn’t harmless – it’s actually hurting your body. That’s why so many patients with today’s “digital” lifestyle see a chiropractor for posture therapy to feel better.
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So, when your mom told you to quit slouching, she was right. It’s not just for appearance, it’s for your health. When you fix and correct issues with your posture, not only will you will see the physical benefits, but you may also notice a boost in confidence. Here are a few reasons why your posture is so important to your health:
Posture Therapy: Why Tweaking Your Alignment Is So Important To Your Health
1. You’ll breathe a little easier—no, really…
When your body is in alignment, your muscles are where they need to be. When your body is not in alignment, your frontal muscles and tendons are taut and shortened, which impacts both your body’s ability to breathe deep and your breathing volume.
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In short, this means you can’t inhale or exhale as much air as you should be able to. When you’re posture is in check, so is your breathing, which is a good thing!
2. Your perfect posture makes you stand tall at any height
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Take a look at the classic teen movie from the 80’s The Breakfast Club. Ally Sheedy’s moody and disconnected character slouches all over the table. Judd Nelson’s angry and angsty teen has the classic teenage slouch. Bad posture exudes a lack of confidence. Those two should have taken a class for “how to improve my posture” during detention…
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People take notice when models walk down the runway not only because they’re beautiful, but also because their posture demands our attention. When you fix your posture, you stand out in a good way, and for those of you who are on the shorter side, you gain a little “height.”
3. You add on pounds when you slouch away
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Slouching can make not only your shoulders hunch over, but also perhaps make your pelvis tilt in a way that makes your abs rounder, rather than flatter and firmer. It can also hurt proper abdominal development, so no matter how many planks or crunches you do, you won’t see the results you need when your posture isn’t strong.
4. And while we’re speaking of abdominals…
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Your bad posture can be a factor in your digestion and circulation. People don’t always correlate the spine with organ function, but alignment really has a huge impact on your bodily function. From constipation to acid reflux, poor posture can be the culprit.
5. Your muscles & joints take a strong hit from poor posture
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Bad posture is simply cruel for your muscles and joints. Slouching adds weight and stress onto different areas of your body that weren’t designed to maintain the constant pressure. This can cause wearing of your joints, which in the long-term can cause joint pain or arthritis.
6. Your poor posture and back pain are related
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If you’re dealing with chronic back or neck pain, you may be itching to search “how to improve my posture” online. This is especially relevant for many of us working in an office, doing manual labor, or working a job in which we stand all day.
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Bad alignment impacts and strains your back muscles and spine. Over time, this affects the nerves in your back as well. Fixing your posture can play a huge part in reducing your back pain.
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Not maintaining good posture and adequate back support can add strain to muscles and put stress on the spine. Over time, the stress of poor posture can change the anatomical characteristics of the spine, leading to the possibility of constricted blood vessels and nerves.
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Sitting and standing with proper postural alignment will allow one to work more efficiently with less fatigue and strain on your body’s ligaments and muscles. Being aware of good posture is the first step to breaking old poor postural habits and reducing stress and strain on your spine
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It all lines up that fixing your posture can impact your health for the better. Speaking to a chiropractor and getting your posture evaluated is the first step to standing tall (and strong!)