Anyone that has had their mother yell at them to “sit up straight” or “stand up straight” should relate well to this article.
I am not going to criticize you for your “stance”, but I want to get you thinking about your posture and its health benefits..
The spine is a flexible structure designed for movement. The spine gives the human frame strength and stability. Postural problems arise due to the constant stress of gravity and the strain of maintaining constant balance. There is also an important relationship between the body’s structural (bone) and functional (organ) systems, with the nervous system acting as the relay.
Good posture promotes good health. Poor posture begets poor health. We slouch and twist, bend and stretch, and lift heavy objects without regard for the normal limits of motion. We sleep on soft mattresses, often on our stomachs, and when we sit, we prefer to sink into overstuffed and soft chairs. No wonder postural pain is so prevalent.
Chiropractors know that spinal pain can be traced directly to poor posture and that simple rules can avoid these chronic ongoing issues.
WHAT CAUSES POOR POSTURE
- Heredity and developmental defects
- Visual problems
- Emotional problems
- Excessive weight
- Foot problems and/or poor shoes
- Weak muscles
- Laziness
- Poor sleeping habits
- Injury to muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO CORRECT POSTURE
- Improves your health
- Improves your appearance
- Improves your coordination
- Increases your strength
- Gives you more stamina
- Gives you confidence
- Gives you better body balance and makes you more agile
- Reduces the risk of injury
- Aids in physical/mental growth
HINTS TO HELP YOU AVOID BACK TROUBLE
- Use a hard chair and put your spine firmly against the back when sitting. Try to keep your knees slightly higher than your hip.
- Do not cross your legs at the knees. This action could aggravate an existing back condition and interfere with leg circulation.
- Do not sleep sitting in a chair or cramped quarters.
- Sleep on a mattress firm enough to hold your body level but soft enough to allow your shoulders and buttocks to depress into the mattress. Try to avoid sleeping on your stomach, if possible. When sleeping on your back, prop a pillow under your knees and if on your side, bend your knees at the hips. Use only one pillow for your neck support.
- Avoid reading or watching TV in bed with your head propped at a sharp or strained angle.
- Avoid sudden twists, turns, or extreme bending of your back or neck in any direction.
- Always bend with your knees, keeping your back straight when lifting heavy loads. Keep what you lift close to your body, and don’t reach forward when releasing the load. Especially don’t twist during any phase of the lift.
