Are you always being told to sit up straight or pick up your shoulders? While these statements can seem nagging, your health can be impacted by following the advice.
Poor posture can have a negative effect on your health and even cause major health issues somewhere along the line.
“Since the introduction of mobile devices such as cell phones and laptops into our everyday lives, we have seen almost an epidemic of poor posture. This is because we are hunched over these devices for hours each day, especially now that many of us are working from home, meeting via video conference, and learning virtually,” says Albany Chiropractic & Physical Therapy’s Dr. Traudt.
There are many ways poor posture can negatively impact your health, such as:
Exacerbate Arthritis
Increased pressure on certain joints and muscles can make existing arthritis worse.
Shoulder, Neck & Back Pain
Tightness caused by bad posture can lead to even more body pain.
Breathing Issues
Your diaphragm needs to have space to properly release and contract so that you breathe properly. If you are always hunched over, that can’t happen.
Mood
Bad posture can cause a bad mood. In fact, it has been proven that when sitting with good posture, people spoke with more positivity and noticed reduced fatigue.
Fixing your posture can be harder than it may sound. As humans, we are creatures of habit and most times, we don’t even realize how we are sitting.
Create a new habit to check your posture multiple times throughout the day, not just when sitting, but also when standing and walking.
Here are some other ways you can improve your posture:
Move Around
Sitting in one position for an extended period of time is not good for your body. Get up and walk around for a couple of minutes every hour.
Stretch
Stretching can help you adjust your posture. Two of our favorite stretches are child’s pose and the shoulder blade squeeze.
Child’s Pose
Begin on all fours and sink your hips down towards your feet. While walking your hands out in front of you, place your forehead on the floor with your arms extended in front of you.
Shoulder Blade Squeeze
Stand tall with your arms at your side. Pull your shoulders back and downward, like you want them to touch.
Set a Reminder
Use your phone for an hourly reminder to check your posture. Soon, it’ll become a habit!
If you’d like a custom plan to address your poor posture and the negative health impacts of slouching, call our office today to schedule a consultation!
Information in this article was taken from HealthLine.com and USNews.com.