Posture is the way you hold your body when sitting, standing, or lying down, and it affects the health of the skeleton. Maintaining proper body alignment can also help prevent neck and lower back pain. Use this guide to understand more about posture and its impact on your health.

The Importance of Good Posture

Maintaining proper alignment will grant you a full range of movement without straining the muscles and ligaments. The undue stress can cause joint pain and wear the ligaments in the spine, leading to lower back pain.

Poor posture can also cause difficulty of breathing due to a restricted chest cavity and pain from constricted nerves that are trapped between joints for long periods.

Best Practices for Good Posture

Good posture habits include holding the shoulders back, standing erect, keeping the feet shoulder-width apart, and letting the arms hang naturally at your sides. Be mindful of your posture and adjustment your position as needed.

If you spend ample time at a desk, take a break every 20 minutes to stretch the joints and muscles. These breaks will also promote blood circulation, which will deliver oxygen to the bones and joints, keeping them functioning properly.

You should also maintain a healthy weight to encourage even weight distribution throughout the body. Extra pounds can weaken abdominal muscles, stress the spine and hips, and cause discomfort in the knees as well as lower back pain.

 

If you want to see a chiropractor to correct your posture, turn to Randy R. Collins, D.C., Inc., in Honolulu, HI. Dr. Collins has provided his patients with pain relief and posture advice since 1979. He’ll assess your current lifestyle and alignment to figure out where the adjustments need to be made. To learn more about his services or schedule an appointment, call (808) 839-7474.