What Causes Poor Posture?
“Sitting is the new smoking,” or so goes the new adage. Sitting is the most underrated health risk of our time, killing more people than smoking. And even if it isn’t killing you, it is causing you to underperform. The American College of Environmental Medicine released a study that states that because we are human and not machines, we underperform our productivity-potential every day by 11 to 14 percent. And health risks (like sitting too long) further decrease productivity.

But how does sitting impact health? One primary way is through its impact on the spine. You may be all too familiar with the muscle-straining inertia of sedentary living. If you stare at the computer all day, chances are you have tight and weak muscles, less-than-perfect posture, and a misaligned spine.

Health Effects of a Misaligned Spine
Okay, so maybe you don’t always stand tall, but other than a slightly diminished physical appearance, what does it matter? It actually matters a great deal. Misaligned vertebrae cause stress to the surrounding tissue. You may develop soreness, inflammation, and a general loss of mobility. This perpetuates a vicious cycle, in which you are in so much pain that you don’t exercise, and a lack of exercise causes more stiffness. In addition, misaligned vertebrae can cause many mysterious symptoms, including:

• Frequent illness
• Indigestion
• Anxiety
• Nervousness
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• High/Low Blood Pressure
• Hardening of the arteries
• Poor circulation
• Swollen ankles
• Chronic Congestion
• Allergies
• Hearing loss
• Ear Ache
• Thyroid Conditions
• Chronic Pain
• Arthritis
• Difficult/Painful Urination

The spine is literally the backbone of health. It is involved, directly and indirectly, in any and all bodily http://healthsavy.com/product/soma/ processes. For optimal health and productivity, you need an aligned and healthy spine.

The first four examples feature poor spinal alignment, leading to ill health and productivity losses. The example on the far right is ideal posture. Source: Mayo Physiotherapy

What is “good” posture?
As the picture above shows, good posture distributes stress evenly across muscles and connective tissue. It prevents muscle weakness, tightness, and strain. So how can you achieve it?

Barring spinal arthritis or scoliosis, you can easily get your body into a proper, aligned position. Simply put your feet hip-width distance apart, toes pointed forward. Align your ears, shoulders, hips, and ankles. Roll your shoulders up and back and raise your chin slightly. That’s it!

The problem is maintaining this position. If you have weak or tight muscles caused by long hours of sitting, your natural tendency will be to revert to your normal bodily position. But this only increases the muscle imbalances that you already have. To break the cycle, you need the help of a well-trained, experienced chiropractor.

How can you discover and maintain good posture?
You can achieve better posture in three steps:
1. Commit to regular chiropractic adjustments, which will help restore mobility and alignment to your spine. This is the foundation of better posture.
2. If your chiropractor assigns physical therapy exercises, such as back-strengthening exercises, for you to do at home, take time to do them multiple times per week. Posture is all about muscle memory, and this only comes with repetition.
3. Whenever you find yourself slipping back into old body positioning, gently correct yourself by moving subtly to align your spine.

That’s it! If you diligently follow these three steps, you may not recognize yourself in a few months. Better posture projects confidence, enthusiasm, and a zest for life. Not to mention the productivity and health benefits of an aligned spine. If you would like to achieve or restore perfect posture, call your South OC Physical Medicine & Chiropractic Clinic today!