POOR POSTURE
Do you feel yourself slouching most of the time?
Does your body ache in areas such as the neck, shoulder, arm, and back?
Have you experienced headaches that are caused by neck, back, and shoulder tension?
Is muscle fatigue interfering with your quality of life?
From a young age, many of us have been told to stand tall and upright. This vital piece of advice is more important than many of us realized at the time. Good posture contributes to a healthy, strong spine and lowers the risk of developing spine-related conditions.
Poor posture can cause immense pains and aches in the neck, back, and head. This is because poor posture makes our muscles and ligaments work overtime to keep everything balanced and upright. Muscle fatigue and tension is caused by lack of activity and prolonged periods of slouching.
Poor Posture Conditions
A number of conditions can stem from poor posture, such as:
- Spinal dysfunction
- Neck, back and shoulder pain
- Body aches
- Joint degeneration
- Rounded shoulders
- Bulging stomach
- Bent knees
- Muscle fatigue
Have you ever noticed a person with bad posture? Consider how they look. You will notice that their head juts forward, creating tension in the facial muscles and jaw. It’s no surprise that people with bad posture end up having severe headaches and a variety of jaw problems. Prolonged jaw clenching can result in wearing the jaw down significantly.
Slouching your shoulders and hunching your back causes muscles to tense in a painful way. Alternatively, pain can also be a reaction from trying to correct your posture by keeping your shoulders held back. Faking correct posture can lead to body aches and stiffness. Over time, hunching can become so bad that the joints degenerate in spinal column or shoulders hunch permanently.
Hunching is also damaging to your lungs. It can lower lung capacity by up to a third of its regular capability. When lungs are not performing regularly, the heart, brain, and body tissues are not receiving an adequate amount of oxygenated blood. Oxygenated blood deficiency can lead to blood and vascular disease as well as shortness of breath.
Digestion is also disrupted through hunching since it makes it more difficult for food to pass through the intestines efficiently. Poor posture also leads to problems with our body’s fibers, nervous system, and muscles. With good posture, the brain receives the appropriate information regarding when to stand upright and how to balance. With bad posture, the brain has to constantly remind the body to keep standing upright, which contracts muscles over a long period of time. This misinformation, along with prolonged use of phasic fibers, is a reason why fatigue is a common symptom of bad posture.
Poor Posture Correction and Treatment
No two cases of poor posture are alike. It is important to undergo a complete and accurate analysis before effective treatment can begin. The most beneficial treatments for poor posture include physical therapy, osteopathic treatment, and chiropractic manipulation. These treatments can be used separately or in combination in order to help stretch, strengthen, and support the body until it is functioning as it is should be.
Contact Pinnacle Chiropractic and Spinal Rehab Center today Highlands Ranch, CO for expert advice or to book an appointment.
