At Advanced Health Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Pain Relief Center, our chiropractors want you to know that posture can play a large role in your overall health and wellness when it comes to neck and back pain. If your mother ever told you to “sit up straight” or “stop slouching”, as annoying as it was as a child, she was actually giving your really good advice. At Advanced Health our staff members want to make sure you know what to avoid and how you can improve your posture to help prevent back pain and neck pain.

Mistakes to Avoid

Using your phone – Most individuals tilt their head while talking on their phone or they tend to slouch their head forward while texting on their cellphones. When you tilted your head can feel heavier to the next and shoulders, resulting in a sensation of extreme discomfort that can eventually lead to chronic pain and back issues. Interesting fact: this can also make your lungs lose up to 30% of their breathing capability.

Slouching while driving – The vibration created by the engines of your vehicle can oscillate at a frequency that is known to relax and sedate your muscles, resulting in slouching and poor posture. This slouching actually causes your back muscles to work harder to support the added weight.

Only using one shoulder – When you carry a heavy purse, bag, or backpack on one shoulder you are throwing your body’s natural gait while walking out of balance. Since all of the weight of the bag you are carrying is on one side of your body, you are carrying an asymmetric load, which can throw off your posture, stress out your neck, shoulder, and back resulting in sore muscles and aches.

Bending forward from your back – Most individuals bend forward with their back when they are brushing their teeth or lifting items off the floor. Bending forward from your back stretches out your muscles and ligaments in your back, putting a strain on those muscles, and causing the discs between your vertebrae stress.

Dedication and thought are the two things that are required when it comes to improving your posture. When you spend a small amount of time working on your posture, you will notice a reduction in neck pain and back pain as well as an improvement in your appearance.

Talk to Your Chiropractor about Your Posture

One of the steps to improving your posture is knowing what good posture is. Your local chiropractor will not only help define good posture for you, they can recommend exercises to strengthen your core postural muscles.

Create Reminders That Work for You

Keep in mind that long-standing postural problems take longer to address than short-lived ones. With long-standing issues, your joints will most likely have adapted to your poor posture. Conscious awareness and effort will help you correct posture over time. A good way to keep up your efforts to resolve poor posture is to create reminders that work for you. Use reminders that fit in with your daily routine and lifestyle.

At Advanced Health Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Pain Relief Center, we want you to enjoy the best quality of life possible. If you are struggling to maintain good posture contact our chiropractors for support, we can set you on the path to a better and healthier lifestyle.