Since you were a child you have probably been told to sit up straight. Daily when you see people walking around with good posture it can be appealing, but there are more benefits than aesthetics. Posture is important whether you are laying down, standing, or sitting.
The spine has three different curves that need to be aligned correctly in order to evenly distribute your weight over your feet.
To achieve good posture your ear, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankles need to be aligned vertically from the side.
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The average person isn’t walking around with great posture so it’s important to train yourself to maintain good posture to prevent straining other parts of your body. Good posture helps distribute the force of gravity throughout the body.
Bad posture can put a great deal of stress on your joints, muscles, and ligaments. Think of your body as a building, if an architect builds a building with a poor foundation it becomes less resistant to the stress it experiences.
Most people struggle with posture when they are in a sitting position. If you work from home chances are you spend most of your time slouched over while typing at your computer.
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Usually when people are highly focused on something they tend to stick out their head and neck. While this is happening, there is an increased tension placed on muscles and joints.
As a result, your upper back and neck will reach a point of being fatigued. The first step to correcting your posture is awareness. You can break all of the poor habits to reduce stress and strain on your spine.
Health Benefits of Good Posture
- Align your joints and bones for better alignment
- Use muscles effectively and efficiently
- Decrease the stress on spinal ligaments
- Stop the spine from being in abnormal positions.
- Prevent Muscle Fatigue
- Reduce the risk of spine and strain injuries
- Reduce the risk of back pain
- Better Appearance
Results of Poor Posture
- Muscle imbalances in the body
- Wear and tear on the spine
- Back Injury Prone
- Risk of the neck, shoulder, and back pain
- Less Flexibility in the body
- Poor balance
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty with digestion
Bad Posture with Age
You may have noticed at some point when people get older their backs begin to create an arch shape.
It’s seen so often that it can be easily perceived that it’s just a part of aging, but the truth is that it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s normal for the spine to have a natural curve, a hunch back isn’t quite as ordinary.
If it begins to become more problematic you contact your primary physician to ensure that some lifestyle changes happen to reverse the issue.
Once your back has reached the point of a permanent hunch you may experience breathing problems, balance problems, and issues with regular daily activities.
As people age, they may naturally experience some bone loss. Conditions like osteoporosis can cause your bones to lose their calcium and it will cause your bones to be less dense.
When your bones are weakened the posture problems may begin. Bottom line: it is important to have good posture practices at an early age to combat any potential problems in the future.
