The Importance of Posture
(Reading Time: 1.5 mins)
Posture isn’t something we think about often enough, especially of how important it is to our daily lives and longevity. Poor posture can place unnecessary stress on your tendons, muscles, and ligaments, leading to neck and back pain. Poor posture can also heighten your risk of injury for those of use who live an active lifestyle.
If you’re unsure about the status of your posture here are a few symptoms associated with bad posture:
Rounded shoulders
Potbelly
Bent knees when standing or walking
Head that either leans forward or backward
Back pain
Body aches and pains
Muscle fatigue
Headache
It all comes down to the spine, the proper alignment of your spine allows you to move easily so that your body supports your weight without strain. Good posture promotes effective and efficient use of the muscles in your body and can even boost your self-esteem and mood!
The most common factors that lead to poor posture include a stationary lifestyle, obesity, stress, weak or tightened muscles, and pregnancy. As humans, we are designed to move. Which can be quite a challenge if you have a job that requires you to remain seated or standing for the majority of the day. Just listen to your body and make minor adjustments while standing and sitting. Which position feels the easiest and most graceful?
If you’re not quite sure where to start with correcting your posture, here are a few things you can keep in mind:
TIPS FOR GOOD POSTURE
Chin parallel to the floor
Shoulders even (roll your shoulders up, back, and down to help achieve this)
Arms at your sides with elbows straight and even
Abdominal muscles braced
Hips even
Knees even and pointing straight ahead
Body weight distributed evenly on both feet.
Another helpful tip comes from the “invisible string theory.” Visualize an invisible string that extends from your tailbone up your spine and out the top of your head. You want the string to be straight at all times, drawing you up toward the sky with your hips, shoulders and head all aligned. Your abdomen should be pulled in. Knees should be soft, not locked. And you should be looking straight ahead, not down. Visualization can be very helpful when working on your mental and physical health.
Sources:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-good-posture-matters
https://www.barringtonortho.com/blog/the-importance-of-posture
https://www.maxwelltherapy.com/Newsletters/Full-Articles/The-benefits-of-good-posture/a~17683/article.html