Why is Good Posture so Important?
Good posture is about much more than standing up straight - it’s a critical part of your long-term health and wellness. Correct posture helps us keep our bones and joints in alignment, reduces stress on ligaments, allows our muscles to work more efficiently, and helps prevent pain, overuse, and abnormal strain on your muscles.
When you hold your body up in the proper way, you’re protecting yourself from a variety of health problems, including:
Misaligned musculoskeletal system
Making your spine more fragile and prone to injury
More strain to breathe
Neck, shoulder and back pain
Decreased flexibility
Poor mobility in joints
Increased risk of falling and poor balance
Difficulty digesting food
When you consider that we’re deep into winter, many of us are spending even more time sitting and slouching than usual. Not to mention we often compromise our posture when we sit at desks, look at computers, and glance down at our smartphones.
But before we dive into some tips and tricks that can help you improve your posture, bear with us while we ask what might seem like a dumb question: what is posture?
Plain and simple, posture is how we hold our bodies. But there are two types we should consider:
Dynamic Posture - how you hold yourself while you’re moving (i.e. walking, running, bending over, etc.)
Static Posture - how you hold yourself while you’re not moving (i.e. sitting, standing, sleeping, etc.)
20 Tips for Improving Your Posture
To prevent injury and improve your spine’s longevity, here are a few simple tips that can improve your posture and be incorporated into your everyday routine:
Be mindful of your posture during dynamic and static activities
Stay active
Wear comfortable shoes with a low heel
Place your work surface at a comfortable height
Switch sitting positions
Stretch your muscles often to relieve tension
Don’t cross your legs
Take short walks throughout the day
Keep both feet on the floor with your ankles in front of your knees
Relax your shoulders down away from your ears
Keep your elbows close to your body (between 90 and 120 degrees)
Make sure that your back, hips, and thighs are fully supported
Don’t lock your knees
Engage your core to make sure that you’re standing up straight
Keep your shoulders back
Put the majority of your weight on the balls of your feet
Keep your head level (i.e. avoid tilting forward, backward, up, or down for extended periods of time)
Keep your feet shoulder-width apart
Allow your arms to hang naturally at your sides
When sitting in a chair, make sure the backrest is supporting your low- and mid-back
If you find that you are experiencing chronic pain and complications in your back, neck, and shoulders, consider making an appointment with our team at Tribe Family Chiropractic.
Many people find that both their posture and ability to maintain good posture over long periods of time improves after a chiropractic adjustment. Contact us today to learn more!