Why Is Posture So Important?

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times – don’t slouch! Sure, some of Mom’s advice wasn’t always true (no, your face won’t freeze like that), but she was right when she told you to sit up straight. As more and more people spend their days at desks and doing sedentary jobs, there has been an increase in reported back and neck pain issues. Even if you don’t have a desk job, you are probably spending more time in front of the computer, your phone, or the TV as your practice social distancing. Practicing good posture is more important now than ever before – in fact, the health of your spine depends on it!

Check Your Posture
You are probably sitting down as you read this, so take a moment and check your posture.
– Does your chair offer adequate lumbar support? Does the backrest fit the natural curve of your spine?
– Are your shoulders back and buttocks against the backrest of your chair?
– Are your shoulders even and relaxed?
– Are your knees bent at 90 degrees and level with your hips?
– Are your feet flat on the floor?
– Is your weight distributed evenly across both hips?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, you are putting extra stress on your spine which can lead to back pain. Now that you’re aware of the fact your sitting posture can impact your spinal health, what’s next?

Change Your Habits
It may seem like you’re just sitting, right? There are, in fact, ways that you can work on changing how you sit to improve your posture. Be sure to get up and stretch at least once every hour that you spend sitting down. If you know you are a habitual sloucher, regularly check your posture with the questions above and correct any areas where you answered “no”. Otherwise, you create a negative effect on the discs between your vertebrae, which can cause them to herniate or bulge. Take regular breaks to stand up, stretch your back and legs, and even take a short walk.

If you are currently experiencing back pain, the chiropractors at Livingston County Chiropractic Center can help. Whether it’s due to posture or other issues, your local Pontiac, IL chiropractors are here to help. Just click here to contact us!