How Chiropractic Can Help Ensure Good Posture
Posture is the position of your body while sitting, standing or lying down. Good posture has several health benefits and helps avoid back and neck pain. Chiropractic can help you improve and maintain your posture. There are several reasons why good posture is important.
There are several less obvious health benefits you may not know about. Good posture can:
• Minimise stress on your ligaments, reducing the risks of injury
• Help maintain correct alignment of joints and bones
• Reduce abnormal joint wear
• Help prevent muscle pain, overuse, and strain
• Conserve body energy since muscles are used more efficiently
Medical research shows that poor posture can increase feelings of depression, influence stress and confidence levels, and affect your digestive track.
Different Causes of Poor Posture
Your back was not designed to spend a lot of time sitting at a desk, which is a common feature of many working environments.
Sitting at the Desk
If you spend approximately six to eight hours a day in front of your computer, it can lead to arm, shoulder, neck and hand problems. It also results in issues with coordination and balance. Most office workers experience neck issues and back problems that lead to lost productivity in workplace.
Low back pain is among the most common contributors to disability among individuals of working age and its effects on industry is enormous. Most health experts report that after colds and headaches, back pain is a third reason for taking time off work.
Also, the work-related activities that are associated with the onset of the lower back symptoms include (but not limited to), bending and twisting, lifting heavy weights and of course performing your duties while in the same position for long periods.
Other factors that lead to poor posture included obesity, stress, pregnancy, high-heeled shoes, abnormally tight muscles, and weak muscles.
Signs of Poor Posture and Common Problems
There are several indicators of poor posture, but some of the most common include hunched shoulders, rounded upper back, rounded shoulders, forward head carriage, rotated hips and the arched lower back. Also, another common indicator is back pain. If you are not sure that you are sitting in a position for optimal posture, schedule or talk to your chiropractor to arrange for a spinal examination and you can discuss options to improve your current posture.
How to Correct Your Posture?
The good news is that most posture issues can be corrected by experts and, in many cases, reversed. When you are in a working environment that needs a lot of computer and desk work, you should ensure that your workstation equipment is naturally and ergonomically sound. You should also be in the position to take regular breaks of about one to two minutes standing up and moving around, for every 30 minutes you spend on your working desk or workstation. You may want to consider a desk that can be converted to a standing desk which breaks up the prolonged sitting effects.
Importance of Chiropractic Care and Therapies
Chatfield Chiropractors (in Sunbury and Roxburgh Park) can easily assess your spinal health and provide you with the chiropractic care you need in order to improve it. Your chiropractor can also offer guidance on various exercises, which when done on a regular basis, can help you strengthen your body muscles and maintain good posture.