How does posture affect your health and is there such a thing as perfect posture? The answer may surprise you.
The latest research shows that it’s actually more beneficial to think about your posture as dynamic, not static.
In other words, your ideal posture is constantly changing and evolving.
Think of your posture as a dynamic pattern of responses, reflexes, and habits, not just a fixed position.
Gravity, your work environment, and your body’s anatomy all play essential roles. For instance, sitting for hours at a time staring at a computer screen is a perfect example of a damaging static posture that, over time, can lead to the development of chronic forward head posture.
Forward head posture affects millions of people who spend their days using computers and can potentially cause pain and degenerative changes in your spinal joints. It places stress on the neck and shoulders and weakens the supporting muscles.
Here’s what you need to know…
Neck pain, tension, stiffness and tenderness are all signs of chronic forward head posture.
Forward head posture affects millions of people and results in neck pain for up to 75% of those affected.
The good news is that there are ways to improve. Moreover, trapezius strengthening has been shown to provide clinically significant relief for those struggling with neck pain due to forward head posture.
If you spend long hours each day in a single position – like sitting at a computer – it’s important to take the time to take periodic breaks to stretch and move your body.
Remember, posture is dynamic, and stretching can help “reset” your posture but also help keep your spine healthy and your energy levels up!
Scheduling a posture and movement assessment with us is also a smart idea to help ensure you remain as pain-free as possible no matter how you spend your days. Just give us a call!
How To Improve Your Posture:
When discussing posture, we often refer to your body’s overall position as you stand, sit or lie down.
Most experts would agree that a “good” overall posture involves physical positions that reduce stress on the body by balancing the load placed on the muscles and ligaments that support the spine.
If you’ve looked in the mirror and noticed that your posture doesn’t look as balanced as you’d like – not to mention it doesn’t feel as balanced as you’d like – you may be wondering what you can do to improve it.
One of the best ways to improve your posture is through motion.
Changing positions frequently during the day, stretching, and specific postural exercises are all ways to improve your posture.
Good posture helps you keep your bones and joints in proper alignment, which helps reduce the wear and tear on your joints and decrease the strain on the ligaments that support your spine.
Here are some key takeaways:
- Good posture means keeping your spinal curves aligned and weight evenly distributed.
- Stretches and exercises can help improve your posture and reduce your risk of neck and back pain.
- Standing desks have been shown to reduce back pain by over 30% compared to sitting at a desk.
Remember that stretching and exercising are essential when creating a plan to improve your posture.
Equally important is knowing where to start.
Our postural and movement assessments can help you determine the best strategy to help balance and improve your posture, especially if you’ve been living with pain.
It all starts with a phone call. We’re standing by and ready to help!
Science Source(s):
Effects of Trapezius Strengthening on Posture. Med Sci Monit. 2020.
Back Health and Posture. Cleveland Clinic. 2020.
“Tech Neck” Taking a Toll on Posture. Columbia Spine. 2018.
Breaking up Workplace Sitting Time. Occup Environ Med. 2014.
Why Being Flexible is Great for Your Health. Healthline. 2020.
Forward Head Posture and Neck Pain. Curr Rev Musculoskel Med. 2019.
Guide to Good Posture. Medline Plus. 2020.
Upright Posture Improves Effect and Fatigue. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 2017.
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