Do you suffer from Chronic Back Pain?
If so you aren’t alone.. Roughly 80% of American’s will suffer from back pain in their lifetime and for many of them it’s something they live with on a daily basis.
There are many reasons for this but one of the main contributors for some folks is bad posture.
Do you slouch, slump, or hunch when sitting or standing? That’s bad posture!
Let’s talk about then effects of bad posture and also talk about some of the benefits of having good posture.
Have you ever wondered why there is so much emphasis on a good posture?
Maintaining a good posture has always been advised by parents and teachers at schools since our early days. Heck if you’re “old” enough like me you might remember the days back in grade school having to walk around in PE class with a book on our heads to ensure our posture is correct.
Even back then (in my case the 1960’s) they knew having bad posture was detrimental to your health.
When your posture is misaligned the resulting consequences include:
1. Putting excessive pressure and stress on the connective tissues surrounding the joints;
2. Hindering growth by putting pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves emerging from it;
3. Making a person appear shorter in height due to slouching;
4. Development of a hunchback that often leads to health issues as well as loss of self-confidence;
5. Increased risk of osteoarthritis due to the wear down of connective tissues that results in the bones of the joints rubbing together and becoming painful;
6. Disruption of normal organ function due to continuous slouching;
Now, the question arises: how can we prevent an improper posture?
Here are a few tips that may be beneficial to you:
● Change your sitting and standing posture;
● Shed extra pounds;
● Ditch wearing high heels daily;
● Invest in a good quality mattress and pillow;
● Exercise regularly.
Change your sitting and standing posture:
If you have an office job and are working long hours, you should invest in a good quality table and chair. You should also make sure your back is resting against the chair when you are sitting. You can do this by putting a cushion or rolled-up cloth behind you. Your knees should be at the same level as your hips and feet should be flat on the floor.
Shed extra pounds:
Bulging belly and extra body weight can put excess pressure on the back and pelvis. It also weakens the body joints and bones. Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) and try to stay in the recommended range for your age and height by devising a workout and diet plan.
Ditch wearing high heels daily:
Let your spine, knees, and sole of your feet rest by wearing heels only occasionally. High heels look smarter, but they tend to misalign the spinal cord and place excess pressure on the knees. The soles of your feet are also hurt by wearing heels for too many hours.
Invest in a good quality mattress and pillow
Choose the right mattress that is not too soft nor too hard. Always put a pillow under your head while you are sleeping. Try to sleep on your sides instead of sleeping on your back or stomach.
Exercise regularly
Keep yourself healthy by exercising on a regular basis. Go for a walk or jogging at least three to five times a week. Indulge in healthy activities on a regular basis so that you can have strong muscles that support your spine and indeed your whole body.
Bottom Line:
Always remember to take care of your posture because the consequences of a poor one are beyond looks and appearance. A proper posture supports and balances the body. As a result, you will have more strength and the chances of osteoarthritis and joint pain will also decrease.
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