Simple Steps To Improve Your Posture
Do you ever catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and immediately fix your posture? Or maybe your back starts hurting at work, only for you to realize you've been slouching in your chair all morning. The harsh truth is that most people have pretty poor posture, and throughout our busy lives, we have to find small ways to remind ourselves how to sit and stand properly.
The Role Posture Can Play In Your Physical Health
It's no secret that we all look taller, slimmer, and more confident when we sit and stand up straight. However, the days can certainly drag on, particularly during the current pandemic when more and more people are working from home. When the exhaustion sets in, it can be hard not to fall into that slump (literally).
However, it's important for us to remember that posture plays an important role in our physical health and well-being, and ignoring it can lead to many health issues, including:
- Pain in the back and neck
- Mild to severe headaches and migraines
- Trouble with decreasing mobility
- Bad balance
- Digestion difficulties
- Alteration of breathing patterns
- Overall physical weakness
Why Do People Slouch?
With more people everyday working in careers that require little to no physical activity, we have seen many more cases of back and neck pain due to poor posture. Therefore, the reason why people most often slouch is two-fold:
People slouch because they have sedentary jobs where they become easily bored, distracted, or engaged in their work - all of which usually result in the person sitting forward in their chair with their shoulders and neck hunched and no support on their lower back.
In jobs where people are chained to their computers/phones/desks, it leaves little time for physical activity that you would naturally get in other more active jobs. Therefore, these people are usually weaker physically and therefore do not have the core strength to straighten their spine for such a long day.
How Can You Start Combatting This To Fix Your Posture?
Thankfully, there are many steps you can take right now to start improving your posture.
When you sleep at night, use a better pillow that will fully support your neck.
Take breaks throughout the day to stretch your spine against a wall, lay flat on the ground, or do 2-5 minute exercises to strengthen your core like planks, sit-ups, or brief yoga exercises.
Try to get outside more where you can move freely and focus on aligning your spine.
Find seating that is supportive for your back and doesn't allow you to sink in and curl your spine.
Practice breathing exercises that help you sit up straight to take in full breaths.
Adjust your workspace at home or in the office and arrange it so you're not reaching too far for your computer or slumping over in an unsupportive chair. Lumbar support pillows can be helpful and make you more comfortable.
What A Physical Therapist Can Do To Help
Physical therapists study mobility and learn what parts of the body have to move for you to experience ease of motion without pain. Though the exercises listed above are certainly a start, a physical therapist is the only one who can truly examine you and understand how to fix your issue.
At Ashburn Physical Therapy, our PTs will show you exactly what to do to fix your posture and alleviate your back, neck, and head pain. We know that you don't have to live with pain forever, and we want to help you lead the healthiest life you can. If you're interested in setting up an appointment at our clinic,
contact us today.
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