Maintaining good posture is more important than most of us think. Good posture means there is musculoskeletal balance. This balance helps to protect the joints in the spine from excessive stress. It also guards against injury and possible deformity. Good posture is a great ‘tool’ to possess to help prevent pain.

What causes us to have poor posture? Some of the contributing factors are overloaded book bags, slouching over computers all day, uncomfortable mattresses, and weak core muscles. With all the external and internal demands on the body, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep from slouching. There really was a good reason why your mom always told you to “sit up straight”.

Signs that you may have poor posture

• Slouching and hunching your shoulders over
• Holding your head and neck forward and/or down
• Arching your lower back too much
• Commonly carrying a heavy purse or backpack on one side of your body
• Sitting on a wallet in your back pants pocket
• “Holding” a phone receiver between your neck and shoulder
• Slumping forward while seated

Want to check your posture? Stand with your back to a wall. If your shoulders, bottom and back of head are all touching the wall, then your posture is correct.

Some Benefits of Good Posture

• Minimize your risk of many neck and back problems
• Ensure your joints don’t develop arthritis
• More efficient use of the body’s muscles
• Experience fewer strains and pains through overuse
• You will feel great and your physical appearance will look tall and confident!

Tips to Improve Your Posture

• Avoid a heavy purse (tote, bag) worn over one shoulder. This can place too much weight on one side of the body and can cause neck, shoulder, and back pain. If you must use a bag or briefcase with a single strap, make sure the strap is padded and wide. The American Chiropratic Association (ACA) suggests wearing a strap that is long enough to place over the head resting on the opposite side of the bag or briefcase. This can help to distribute the weight more evenly.
• Choose office furniture that is ergonomically designed and that fits your body
• While sitting, keep both feet flat on the floor
• While standing, keep your head level and in line with your neck and spine, not pushed forward
• Ensure you have a firm mattress to keep your head and spine aligned
• Don’t sleep on your stomach. Sleep on your side or back.
• Strengthen your core (body’s center of gravity) with exercise for the back, gluteals, upper, and lower abdominals

With much practice, the correct posture for standing, sitting, and lying down will gradually replace your old posture. Correcting your posture will lead to more muscular control, core stability, and fewer back aches in the morning.

Enjoy!

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This entry was posted on March 1, 2008 at 1:05 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Posted in Fit Lifestyle by Kimberly | No Comments Yet