80 percent of Americans struggle with back problems at some point in their life, and having a poor posture is considered to be the most common reason, according to a study at the National Institute of Health.
If poor posture is the leading cause of back problems and pain, then poor habits are the culprit. As you control your habits, it is up to you to prevent back pain by evaluating your posture and working on it.
Folks who spend a lot of time at a desk are at a high risk of continuously having a poor posture but even the way most people look down at their phones is adding stains to their neck and back, according to chiropractors. There are hundreds of reasons to be vigilant about a good posture, not exclusive to your physical health but also mentally.
Why Is Good Posture Important?
Good posture affects your physical and mental health and supports mobility through aging.
It is known that having a good posture relieves back pain and stress and prevents more complications with age. As a person gets older, naturally they lose agility, including the strength to maintain good posture. Being aware and building a good posture prolongs mobility with age, according to doctors. Stretching daily also helps to increase flexibility and agility in daily life and for the future.
In addition to your back, having a good posture supports healthy breathing by opening up your chest and respiratory organs. Speaking of opening up, it can also support healthy digestion, according to chiropractors. When you slouch, it presses your organs together in an unnatural way that slows down metabolism.
If you haven't brought much awareness to your posture, go check it out in the mirror and play around with your image. Look at how you stand naturally, and when you correct your posture. When you stand up straight, your body appears taller and more confident, this is an easy way to boost mood. Adjusting your posture is an easy way to build self-confidence around your body image.
What Does Good Posture Look Like?
Doctors and chiropractors recommend a good posture to be lengthening the spine, that is the crown of the head pushing to the sky and the abdomen pushing up the spine, inward. Keep those abs tight and tuck your bum under your abs, it helps distribute the weight evenly, therefore it doesn't strain one side of your body.
Next, reset the shoulders. For desk sitters, craftspeople, anyone who isn't looking straight ahead, you are probably guilty of the slumped-over shoulders. Push your shoulders back, one hack is to place your elbows at a 90-degree angle, then hold your shoulders in that position.
Don't forget to have a good stance, feet equidistance and thoughtfully disrupt your weight from your toes to your heels. It is a lot to remember all at once if you are creating a new habit, try to set alarms to reset your posture throughout the day until it becomes automatic.
How To Improve Your Posture
If you are struggling with your posture, it is never too late to start improving today. Maybe setting alarms isn't enough to help you create the habit, so get some help.
Invest in ergonomic tools to support a good posture. Many folks wear a posture brace while working or walking to remind them of a healthy stance. Alternatively, make good posture part of your workout and health routine. Incorporate yoga or stretching that supports a healthy posture into your routine. Yoga will reinforce your new posture with healthy breathing exercises as well.
Other ergonomic options include desks that go from sitting to standing, or computer stands that allow you to be in a standing position. It is much easier to maintain a good posture when you are standing and looking forward to preventing tension in the neck. Being able to look forward at your computer is a long-term investment in avoiding neck and back pain.
The easiest thing everyone can do is look forward instead of down at their phone, while reading, etc. Sleep is also a culprit of bad posture, and a difficult one to correct if you don't have pillows and cushioning to support your posture.
Unfortunately for folks who like sleeping on their stomach, that is causing tension in your back and neck due to head positioning. The best way to sleep, according to spine specialists is on your back and with pillows on each side to support that position.
Add having a good posture to your list of healthy lifestyle choices, it is a commitment to the long hall to decrease back pain. Knowing that the majority of Americans will have back problems, you can do something today to help your body in the future.
