As we get older, it’s common for habits such as slouching and inactivity to cause muscle fatigue and tension that can ultimately lead to poor posture. Hunching over a laptop, having a poor desk set-up, or even spending lengthy periods scrolling through your phone can all result in you beginning to suffer from bad posture. The complications of poor posture include back pain, spinal dysfunction, joint degeneration, rounded shoulders and a potbelly.
Posture plays a key part in keeping our bodies performing at their best. Taking your posture for granted can actually cause you other issues such as headaches, chest pains, acid reflux and breathing difficulties which is the last thing anyone wants or needs in their lives.
How can you improve your posture today?
Address your mental health
Stress and negativity don’t just make you feel bad, they actually have a profound effect on your posture too. When you’re under pressure, it’s natural for you to begin hunching your shoulders more, and to begin slouching in your seat. This can put a lot of tension on your muscles which, overtime, changes your posture. As a result, you’re more likely to suffer from back pain which encourages a vicious cycle of negativity. Taking care of your state of mind is crucial when it comes to improving your posture for a better, more comfortable life.
- Schedule a 10 minute brisk walk into each of your days. Physical activity has huge potential to enhance your mental wellbeing. Walking can increase your mental alertness, energy and encourage a positive mood.
- Meditating is a fantastic way to give you a sense of calm, peace and balance. It will benefit your emotional wellbeing and your overall health.
- Reach out for professional support if your mental health is deteriorating or impacting your day-to-day life. There is never any shame in asking for help, it actually takes a huge amount of strength to admit you need support and to commit to it.
Sit up straight
It sounds so simple but it’s so easy for us to sink into our chairs whilst we’re working or chilling on the sofa. If you have a desk-job, be mindful to sit with your feet flat on the floor, or use a foot rest. Your knees should be lower than your hips, have your elbows by the side of your body so they make an L shape, and your monitor should be at eye-level and arm’s length away.
When you’re having a day of sofa-slumping, try to remember to get up every now and then to ensure your blood is fully moving around your body. By sitting for too long, especially in a poor postural or slumped position you can add a great deal of pressure to your back, overstretch the spinal ligaments and increase the pressure on your intervertebral discs.
Strengthen your core
Yoga and Pilates are good ways of strengthening your core muscles. They can help you improve both flexibility and posture. Yoga poses also focus on the alignment correction of your hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders. This sense of proper structural alignment is great for improving posture.
Visit an Osteopath
Osteopathy uses many of the diagnostic procedures used in conventional medical assessment and diagnosis. Its main strength, however, lies in the unique way the patient is assessed from a mechanical, functional and postural standpoint. We use manual methods of treatment to suit the needs of the individual patient.
Osteopaths use physical manipulation, stretching and massaging. This helps to increase the mobility of your joints which will ultimately relieve your muscle tension.
For patients with poor posture, osteopathic treatment can help to release the diaphragm and muscles between your ribs, ensuring they are moving correctly. This will encourage you to breathe properly and will help to give you the best possible chance of holding a good posture.
At The Enfield Osteopathic Clinic, we use a variety of techniques to settle inflammation, restore blood flow and encourage movement back into the joints. We will match the pressure of massage and muscle manipulation to your pain tolerance, and we will provide you with techniques and exercises that you can continue to practice in the comfort of your own home.
If you’re ready to eliminate poor posture from your life, the Enfield Osteopathic team would love to hear from you. We will work together to get you in the best shape possible so you’re able to lead a pain-free and comfortable life.
