Posture matters – chances are that you have heard that before. However, few people have a good understanding of why their posture matters. What can good posture help you with and what some of the problems associated with poor
posture?

Just how important is it?

When talking about good health, posture is at the top of the list as far as importance is concerned. It is highly important, just like getting a good night’s sleep, exercising, and eating right. Good posture is not just about social etiquette; good posture is about doing things with less fatigue, less stress, and more energy. It is virtually impossible to be physically fit without good posture.

If that takes you by surprise, you are certainly not the only one. Oftentimes people overlook the importance of good posture in an overall fitness program. There are 29 core muscles in the body. These muscles are mostly located in the pelvis, abdomen, and back. These muscles work together to provide us with a stable centre of gravity. With good posture, the distribution across the muscles is far better, meaning that there is not a single muscle that needs to compensate for other muscles.

It is about our health on the inside

Again, posture is not just about how you present yourself. Good posture ensures that our bones, joints, organs, and muscles are located where they need to be. Unnecessary strain is inevitable if you stand or sit with improper posture.

A few of the most common effects of bad posture include strain issues such as carpel tunnel syndrome, lower back pain, or neck strain. These are directly related to the overuse of the muscle. Oftentimes people are going to take painkillers to manage their discomfort, despite the fact that the actual issue goes far deeper.

Poor posture and pain

Part of the problem with poor posture is the fact that the discomfort gets progressively worse. This means that people start to experience discomfort and because it develops gradually, they fail to identify the issue accordingly. People start to assume that they have no other option than to live with back pain or fatigue, when it is their poor posture that is the cause of all this discomfort. A few of the different symptoms include:

• Fatigue –If you have poor posture, your muscles are going to have to work exceedingly hard just to hold you up. This means that our bodies continuously use up energy just moving around. This means that the extra energy that we might need to feel good is depleted. As a result, people often feel lethargic or fatigued without knowing why.
• Tight, aching muscles –If you have a tight, stiff, and/or painful feeling in your neck, back, arms and legs but have no idea what may have caused these issues, chances are that you have problems with your posture. Years of bad posture supposedly account for upwards of 80 percent of neck and back problems.
• Joint stiffness and pain –If you have bad posture, you are at risk for degenerative osteoarthritis – otherwise known as “wear and tear” arthritis. Limited mobility and poor posture drastically increase the chances of suffering from this condition in later years.

How does poor posture happen?

Poor posture might be the result of falls or accidents. We have a physical discomfort somewhere in the body, and thus compensate with our posture to deal with it. However, it is far more likely that bad posture develops because of bad habits or environmental factors. There are several factors that can lead to poor posture, including:

• A poorly designed work space
• Occupational stress
• Negative self-image
• Careless sitting, standing, sleeping habits
• Weak muscles, muscle imbalance
• Foot problems or improper shoes
• Visual or emotional difficulties
• Excess weight
• Poor sleep support (mattress)

Never too late to start

If you have never paid attention to your posture before, chances are that the information about the importance of good posture is a bit overwhelming at first. The good news is that it is never too late to get started on improving your posture.

Countless patients have come into the office of our professionals before and been given clear indicators of where and how to change their posture for the better. Clients who have struggled with lower back pain for years reveal that a slight change in the way that they sit or stand can help reduce or sometimes even eliminate the problem altogether.

If you want to know what the professionals at Total Back Care today are able to do to help your posture, call 8357 8211 today to schedule an appointment. They will be able to observe your current posture, recommend any possible changes, and determine whether any current physical discomfort is related to your posture. Stop wondering whether you could fix any discomfort, and find out for yourself.