Does having good posture only affect how you look or does it do more? We'll talk about a few reasons why good posture is important and what you can do to help improve it.
Well, what does poor posture do for your health? Well it can flatten or accentuate the natural curves in our spine, which can lead to other serious health problems. In fact, because more and more people are slouched over their desks or looking down at their smartphones, chronic neck, shoulder, & back are more common. When your body is in good posture, all the bones in your body are lined up properly and carrying the right amount of weight which allows your muscles to not work as hard.
Poor posture can lead to:
- Neck & Back Pain
- Decreased Flexibility
- Joint & disc wear and tear
- Headaches
When your joints and discs begin to wear and tear in the spine, it can cause pinched nerves which lead to numbness, tingling, and other pain or discomforts.
The following activities are what can cause bad posture to develop:
For those that sit often due to work or circumstances, try to make an effort to spend less time sitting. You can:
- Switch to a standing desk
- Walk the stairs instead of taking the elevator
- Stand up and pace when you are talking on the phone
If you can't avoid sitting, then at least you can try to make sure you have the best sitting posture. Don't tuck your feet under the chair but perpendicular or under your knees. Make sure your knees and hips are both at a 90 degree angle. Your computer screen should be at eye level and your keyboard needs to be placed at elbow level.
If you can, try limiting the amount of time you spend on your electronic devices. If that's a hard temptation or addiction to break, try holding your device at eye level so that your head does not tilt down - albeit it may make you look funny walking around like that, but hey you can help prevent further neck & back strain!
