Posture
Whichever chiropractor you see at our chiropractic clinics in Sutton Coldfield and Solihull will first look at your posture. Even while you walk to the examination room the chiropractor will be looking at your posture and the way you move. It is that important as good posture and movement are essential to good spinal health and can also effect other aspects of your health. Your chiropractor will, with your participation, aim to improve your posture and the way you move by adjusting your spinal joints, giving you exercises and lifestyle advice. Improving posture and movement patterns will very often reduce the aches and pains that lead you to seek our help and can have other benefits as well.
Why is good posture so important?
Good Posture is good for your back.
Back pain is one of the most common reasons for people to see their doctor and for taking time off work. It costs the country many billions of pounds each year and poor posture is directly correlated to the incidence of back pain in people who spend much of their day sitting. Good posture keeps bones and joints in the correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly. This helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces and decreases the stress on the ligaments holding the joints of the spine together. Sitting and standing with proper postural alignment will allow one to work more efficiently with less fatigue and strain on your body's ligaments and muscles. Being aware of good posture is the first step to breaking old poor postural habits and reducing stress and strain on your spine.
Good posture looks good
Standing up tall and straight with your chin horizontal can improve your confidence and improve the way you are perceived by others. This is likely to benefit you in work situations as well as social situations. You are more likely to be listened to and taken seriously when giving a work presentation by looking confident, open and relaxed rather than if your posture is slouched. Similarly, in a social situation, you are more likely to be seen as open, approachable and attractive.
Bad posture
Bad posture can lead to increased bio-mechanical stresses and strains which in turn may lead to increased wear of and pain from the body. This has become an ever bigger problem as technology has played an ever larger role in our lives.
Dowager’s Hump
Most of us are aware of the “dowager’s hump” where the head is carried forward and there is exaggerated curve at the top of the back which is convex towards the rear. Historically the “dowager’s hump” was associated with very old women, often widows. Unfortunately this posture, which causes a lot symptoms, is being seen in younger and younger people. The huge increase in the number of people sitting and working at computers caused a large increase in the latter part of the 20th century. Since then, with the invention and advance of the smart phone, the incidence has further increased and includes ever younger people who spend large parts of their day looking down at small smartphone screens. Slouching makes you look older.
Good posture means:
chin parallel to the floor
shoulders even (roll your shoulders up, back, and down to help achieve this)
neutral spine (no flexing or arching to overemphasize the curve in your lower back)
arms at your sides with elbows straight and even
abdominal muscles braced
hips even
knees even and pointing straight ahead
body weight distributed evenly on both feet.
When sitting down, keep your chin parallel to the floor; your shoulders, hips, and knees at even heights; and your knees and feet pointing straight ahead.
Make an appointment for a no obligation chat with one of our Chiropractors to establish how you could benefit from chiropractic care.