Many people often overlook posture, even though it is such an essential part of well- being and physical health. Standing straight is not only good for your spine, but also, it is healthy for your entire body. At some point, if you do not correct bad posture on your own, you will need to seek help from chiropractic services.
Causes of Poor Posture
- bad postural habit—incorrect sleeping, sitting, standing, reading
- Psychological factors- low self-esteem
- Normal developmental and degenerative processes Pain leading to muscle guarding and avoidance postures
- Muscle imbalance, spasm, and contracted muscles
- Respiratory conditions
- General weakness
- Excess weight
- Loss of proprioception--the ability to perceive the position of your body
Effects of Poor posture
Neck and lower back pain: It is one of the most common consequences of bad posture. More than 80 percent of neck and back problems are the result of tight, achy muscles brought on by years of bad posture. With time, there may be such changes in your muscles and ligaments that you will develop a chronically stiff, tight, and painful feeling.
Limited range of motion: The muscles can get permanently shortened or stretched when a slumped-over position becomes your normal position. Muscles and ligaments that have been shortened or stretched do not function as they should.
Increased discomfort and pain: Poor posture can often cause headaches and pain in the shoulders, arms, and hands resulting from a forward-head position. Rounded shoulders can trigger headache at the base of your skull where the shoulder muscles join.
Creates pain in the jaw: A forward-head position can lead to jaw pain. This kind of pain (known as TMJ, temporomandibular joint disease) was once considered only a dental problem. Today we know that TMJ pain may also be caused or aggravated by faulty posture.
Decreased lung capacity: Reducing the amount of oxygen in your body can decrease the space in your chest cavity, restricting efficient functioning of your lungs. The reduced intake of air into the lungs also requires the heart to work harder to pump the blood, which in turn creates congestion and backpressure of circulation in the pelvis and legs.
Affects proper bowel function: Even this important bodily task may be affected by faulty posture. If your spine arches and sways forward, your intestines may sag and cause constipation.
Accelerated degenerative changes: The likelihood of 'wear and tear' arthritis or what is termed degenerative osteoarthritis, in later years when poor posture is combined with limited mobility.
Makes you look older than you are: When you are slumped or hunched over, you can add years to your appearance. For women, the more rounded the shoulders, the more breasts may sag. Any woman, no matter what her age, can help reduce the sag by nearly 50 percent by simply standing tall. Poor posture sends a message of depression, low energy, and low self- esteem.
Causes you to feel chronically tired: Neck, back, shoulder, muscle pain as well as poor lung capacity and bowel movement will cause you to feel constantly tired.
Chiropractic Innovation
Many individuals who visit a chiropractor may not realize that certain traditional practices are being replaced by newer, more effective methods. These days chiropractors will give you a thorough exam using X-Rays, and may offer other techniques like deep tissue massage and laser therapy.
Since most of the people who suffer from chronic pain have back problems caused by poor posture, it's important to take this matter seriously. Ignoring your posture can take a long time for even the best chiropractors to correct. If you experience pain as a result of poor posture, make sure to find a quality chiropractor.
For postural correction with the help of quality chiropractic care, schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael Berry, an experienced Tustin chiropractor.
