Chiropractors see all sorts of spinal alignments, good and bad, in their daily work lives. It’s no secret that many people have a problem maintaining back and spine health; much of this has to do with daily activity or lack thereof.
American’s are becoming more office-bound and desk-bound each year. With remote work and computer-driven work becoming more and more commonplace, chiropractors around the country see many ailments, such as sciatica and chronic back pain, due to the sedentary lifestyle of many of today’s workers.
This article will discuss the benefits of good posture and how people can help themselves prevent back pain, spinal pain, and other ailments associated with long-term lousy posture habits.
What is Good Posture?
So, we’ve all been told to keep good posture, and we’ve heard this throughout most of our lives. But, what exactly is good posture?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, posture and good posture are:
“The position in which you hold your body while standing, sitting or lying down. Good posture involves training your body to stand, walk, sit and lie so as to place the least strain on muscles and ligaments while you are moving or performing weight-bearing activities.”
Training our bodies to conduct daily activities with good posture is highly beneficial for our body health for many reasons. Primarily, good posture will help prevent strain on the spine, reducing the spine’s chance of becoming fixed in abnormal positions and causing unnecessary pain throughout the body, deterring activity.
Tips for Keeping Good Posture
Keeping good posture is all about forming good habits when you’re conscious of how your body is positioned, and eventually, unconsciously maintaining those habits.
Sitting in an office chair for extended periods of time is where we see lots of issues like back pain and sciatica stemming from these days.
When you sit down for your workday, make sure to keep these tips in mind to help reduce the likelihood of bad posture and its adverse side effects:
- Do not hunch over the keyboard; keep your back straight and maintain your spine’s natural curvature.
- Keep your head and neck aligned over your shoulders, not hanging down in front of your core.
- Support your feet on the floor or footrest, forming a 90-degree angle at your knees.
- DO NOT sit for more than 30 minutes without taking a break. Walk and stretch to release tension in your ligaments and spine.
- Elevate your monitors to eye-level or slightly above eye-level.
- Distribute your weight evenly across your hips.
- Do not twist or contort your back while seated in place.
The Benefits of Good Posture
The health benefits of keeping good posture are numerous. There isn’t one part of the body that isn’t positively impacted by maintaining good posture. Chiropractors are a delight to see the spinal improvement that accompanies good posture, and patients deserve credit for being diligent and practicing good posture.
Good posture will improve:
- Alignment in bones and joints
- Wear and tear on soft tissues like muscles, tendons, ligaments, and discs
- Neck pain and back pain
- “Tech neck.”
- Appearance and energy levels
- Blood flow and respiratory functions
- Stiffness and the inability to move without aches and pains
- Fatigue
- Wearing of the joints, bones, and cartilage throughout the body
Take it Day by Day
Forming good posture habits is not something that happens overnight. But with practice and dedication, you can begin doing your spine, and whole body, lots of short-term and long-term good.
If you’re looking for a chiropractor in Braintree or a chiropractor in Hingham for effective, reliable treatment, we’d love to help you reach your goals. To learn more about good posture habits and spinal alignment, please contact us with any questions.