Good posture is simple and eloquent by design in form and function. The body is designed to have the head, rib cage, and pelvis perfectly balanced upon one another in both the front and side views. If the posture is deviated from normal, then the spine is also deviated from the normal healthy position.
Unfortunately, abnormal posture has been associated with the development and progression of many spinal conditions and injuries including: increased muscle activity and disc injury, scoliosis, work lifting injuries, sports injuries, back pain, neck pain, headaches, carpal tunnel symptoms, shoulder and ankle injuries as well as many other conditions.
Additionally, postural abnormalities in adolescent years have been recognised as one of the sources of pain syndromes and early arthritis in adulthood. Therefore, posture should be checked and corrected in children before more serious problems can occur.
Here are 5 ways to improve your posture and spinal health you might not have known about.
1. Chiropractic adjustments
Chiropractic adjustments stimulate the messages to the brain which tells the body how to move and which muscles to activate for posture.
2. Denneroll Spinal Orthotics
These amazing foam orthotics are part of a three part process of changing the shape of the spine. This triad includes the chiropractic spinal adjustment, spinal orthotics, and strengthening exercise in order to create lasting change. These orthotics make improving your posture as easy as laying down for a few minutes a day. In order to find out which type of orthotic is best for you, speak with a chiropractor who knows about these postural supports.
3. Pro-lordotic Neck Exerciser
This is perfect for use after lying on your Denneroll orthotic because it stretches the neck and strengthens the postural ligaments and muscles into a biomechanically advantageous position.
4. Mid Back Postural Support
This is the perfect tool for those people who work long hours, long drives, sitting at a desk. You can slide it on and off over your shoulders as necessary throughout the day. Its main purpose is to remind you to maintain that good upright posture while out and about or at home relaxing.
5. Strengthening Spinal Stabilisers
Getting advice from your health professional about which muscles need to be stabilised and which need to be stretched is ideal. There is a growing body of research that shows that simply using your abdominal muscles on a regular basis to stabilise your movements will help to train your “deep core” and activates your spinal stabilising musculature.
Correcting your posture can dramatically affect your overall health and well-being. By helping you to loosen tight muscle, joint, and ligament, then strengthening weaker ones, you will allow the rest of your body to work better.
General benefits of good posture:
- Improves concentration and mental acuity
- Reduces the pain in your back and neck
- Increases your range of motion
- Reduces muscle tension
- Provides better sleep
- Reduces stress on lower and upper back
- Improves muscle tone
- Improves digestion
- Improves your circulation
- Improves your blood pressure
- Improves nerve signals from the spine
- Improves cerebrospinal (brain stem) fluid flow
- Promotes proper growth development in children
DID YOU KNOW?
- Good posture makes you taller.
- Standing up straight makes people take you more seriously.
- Good posture makes you feel better about yourself and appear more confident
- Good posture helps the rest of your body work better
- Good posture opens up your diaphragm, throat and windpipe, helping you breathe better
Improving your posture helps prevent these medical conditions from developing:
- Reduces the likelihood of spinal conditions such as herniated discs
- Reduces pressure to kidneys, stomach, colon and other internal organs
- Reduces dizziness, headaches and “pins & needles”
- Reduces the risk of osteoarthritis and other types of joint damage
Dr Sam Fitzgibbons is a Chiropractor and Acupuncturist practicing in Kingsford, NSW. He enjoys treating families and athletes from injury to health & wellness, posture, musculoskeletal health, digestion, female health & fertility through to preganancy.
