Remember when you were little, and your teacher and parents told you to stand up straight and fix your posture? There was more to it than just improving the way you looked to others. At Premier Chiropractic Center, serving Bessemer, AL, and the nearby region, we’d like to take a moment to educate you about how your posture can contribute to back pain.
General Information
Your spine naturally is the support beam of your body. When you have proper posture, your spine has no trouble holding up your body. However, when you have poor posture, it throws your weight distribution off. Your spine then supports weight unevenly, which is unnatural.
Additionally, your soft tissue takes the brunt of the stress when you have poor posture. When you hold your shoulders up high, you’ll notice the pain in your upper arms and shoulders. On the other hand, when you slouch as you sit, you’ll feel the pain in your lower back.
In some cases, the pain relates to your core muscles. Whenever you hunch forward when you sit or stand, you’re placing stress on those muscles. As a result, you’re decreasing blood supply to this area. In return, you develop weakness or stiffness throughout your lower back and trunk.
We should also mention that poor sitting posture can put you more at risk for disc herniation — a condition that occurs when you develop a small crack or tear in the shell of a spinal disc. If the contents of the disc seeps through the opening, it could place pressure on your nerves and soft tissue, which can cause you pain. What happens is when you have poor posture as you sit, your spine bends slightly forward. When your spine isn’t in its proper position, you place pressure on the lower spinal discs, which damages them and causes disc herniation.
Tips for Improving Posture
The optimal defense against posture-related back pain is prevention. By taking a few steps to improve your posture, you can reduce the chances of a herniated disc, back pain, and other undesirable consequences of poor posture.
For one, consciously focus on your posture as you walk. Make sure you hold your shoulders done and stand up straight. You’ll have less back pain when your spine is carrying your weight proportionately. Plus, you’ll have less stress on your soft tissue.
When you sit, hold your back up straight. Your shoulders should be down. Plant your feet on the floor with your feet hip-width apart.
Make sure you place your laptop or computer in a position so where you look frequently is at eye level. You should never have to look up or down repeatedly.
Work on your core muscles. As you strengthen these muscles, you can better support your back. This area will also be less likely to sustain an injury.
In addition, you should consider chiropractic care. A chiropractor can help you strengthen your core muscles, improve posture, and prevent and reduce back pain.
Premier Chiropractic Center in Bessemer, AL, will determine if your posture is affecting your back and help you correct the problem. Contact us today to schedule an appointment by calling 205-519-4024. You may also use our contact form.
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