We’ve heard it time and time again. Don’t slouch, sit up straight, straighten your back, and all the other variations that just boil down to one thing—having good posture. Everyone knows that good posture is important, but do they know why?
There are several benefits that come from improving your posture, as well as several dangers that stem from bad posture. Keep reading to find out how focusing on fixing your posture can enhance your life.
Lasting Back Pain
Sitting or standing while slouching might seem comfortable in the moment, but it’s actually setting you up for a myriad of back problems in the future, especially for your lower back. Slouching leaves your spine unsupported, which puts pressure on your posterior muscles. Although not life-threatening, back pain can become chronic, which greatly reduces your quality of life.
Increased Headaches
If you’ve ever had a headache that feels like a tight band of pressure around your forehead, you know what tension headaches feel like. Tension headaches are extremely common and can be caused by muscle contractions in the head and neck regions. Poor posture strains the muscles at the back of your head, neck, jaw, and upper back, which puts pressure on your nerves, which in turn results in more headaches.
Breathing Problems
According to a study, good posture actually improves your breathing. When you slouch, you’re compressing your lungs, rib cage, and diaphragm. This is because the rounded shoulders and forward head posture tightens the muscles around the chest. This can lead to reduced lung capacity, which presents in shallow or labored breathing. Having difficulty breathing also results in fatigue and reduced energy levels.
Knee and Hip Pain
When you slouch, your bones and muscles fall out of alignment. Lack of alignment can cause friction in your joints, leading to irritation and pain. Patellofemoral pain, for example, is caused by friction between your kneecap and femur. Misalignment of your musculoskeletal system can also cause muscle weakness, tightness, and lack of flexibility. Poor posture wears away at your connective tissues, which only gets worse as you grow older.
Shoulder Pain
Your upper arm is connected to your shoulder by a group of muscles and tendons called the rotator cuff. Poor posture puts a lot of stress on this muscle group, which can make the tendons in your shoulder irritated, making your rotator cuff weaker and causing pain. Continuous degeneration can even lead to rotator cuff syndrome resulting from pinched tendons, which can become a tear.
If you struggle with posture and are experiencing any sort of pain or discomfort, contact Hands-On Health Care & Chiropractic. We’re here to help improve your health and quality of life, so call us at 727-937-6740 or contact us online to get started.
