As a child, your parents may have warned you or scolded you about bad posture. If you want to look confident, you need to keep your back straight, never slouch, keep your legs together as you walk, and keep your head steady. Maybe you listened back then and maybe you didn’t, but as it turns out good posture is about more than just good looks and confidence. Your teachers may have been stricter about posture than they needed to be, but bad posture can put a lot of pressure on your spine and result in chronic and completely avoidable pain.
Standing Posture
The best way to check your standing posture is with the wall test.
- Stand with your back up against a wall. Your shoulder blades and bottom should touch the wall and the heels of your feet should be a few inches away.
- Pass your hand into the arch behind the small of your back. The curve should be just big enough to comfortably fit your hand through.
- If there’s not enough space, your back is too straight and you should curve yourself forward. If there’s too much space, you should straighten your back while keeping your shoulder blades against the wall.
- Once you’re satisfied by your posture, walk around for a while. You should then perform the wall test again to see if you’re sticking with it.
Sitting Posture
Depending on your job and how you spend your time, your sitting posture may be even more important to your long-term spinal health. Good sitting posture is easier to maintain today thanks to ergonomic chair designs, but it’s still important to remember the basics.
- Keep both feet flat on the floor or on a footrest.
- Don’t cross your legs.
- Make sure the chair seat doesn’t put pressure on the backs of your knees.
- Stand up straight but keep your shoulders and neck relaxed.
- Avoid sitting for long periods on stools or other seats with no backrest.
- Take regular breaks from sitting down to stretch, go on a short walk, or get even more active.
Why Posture Is Important
- Bad posture can cause you to look up or down more frequently. This can strain your neck and jaw muscles and lead to persistent tension-type headaches.
- Poor posture is particularly hard on the back muscles as they try to hold your body in an unnatural position. This can lead to chronic back pain and reduce your quality of life.
- Constantly sitting with your legs crossed at the knee or ankle or placing constant pressure on the inside of your knees can cause lasting pain and mobility issues.
- Keeping your core bent forward forces your diaphragm to work harder to get air into your lungs. This can lead to breathing problems and fatigue.
If you’re suffering from mild but persistent back, neck, or joint pains, the solution to your problem may be as simple as changing the way you sit, stand, and walk. At Andresen Active Healthcare, we offer chiropractic sessions and other active treatments, but we also offer advice on staying healthy in your everyday life. Sign up today using one of our helpful online forms.