Lower back
pain is commonly caused by poor posture, as the lower back
supports most of the weight of the body. When the spine is not in proper alignment
the muscles, ligaments and joints are all under excessive strain.
Discs can also suffer from poor posture. When the spine is in proper alignment thanks to correct posture, the cushioning, shock absorbing discs that are in between the vertebrae are not overly stressed and not as subject to injury.
- Does your head jut forward?
- Is your head tilted to one side or the other?
- Are the spaces between your arms and sides unequal?
- Is one shoulder lower than the other?
- Are your shoulders drooped forward or pulled back?
- Is one hip higher than the other?
- Do either of your knees turn in or out?
- Do your ankles roll in so that your weight is on the inside of your feet?
- Is your chest sunken-in and your upper back rounded?
- Is your chin not parallel to the floor?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may need to correct your posture to reduce your back pain. Often the spine will become fixed in an abnormal position if we do not hold ourselves correctly. This can lead to the constriction of blood vessels and nerves. This leads to problems with the joints, disc and muscles. The spine is an important part of the body to take care of; correct posture eliminates many of the health problems that can develop when the spine has unhealthy mobility.
If you choose to improve your posture, you will reap many benefits. Good posture contributes to a good appearance. It prevents backache, muscular pain, strain and overuse problems. Correct posture keeps the bones and joints in correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly. It lessens the stress on the ligaments holding the joints of the spine together. Correct posture also helps decrease the abnormal wearing away of joint surfaces that could cause arthritis and is even one of the top headache remedies, especially for tension headaches. Correct posture prevents the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions, too. If you maintain a healthy posture, your muscles will be used more efficiently, thereby reducing fatigue.
Because people find themselves in several positions throughout the day (sitting, standing, bending, stooping and lying down), it's important to learn how to obtain and keep correct posture in each position for good back support, which will result in less back pain. When moving from one position to another, the ideal situation is that one's posture is adjusted smoothly and fluidly. After initial correction of bad posture habits, these movements tend to become automatic and require very little effort to maintain.
For more back pain relief tips, check out the rest of our blog,or come in to the store today for solutions.
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