How to Have Good Posture

Posture is the position you hold your body upright against gravity while either standing, sitting, or lying down. Maintaining good posture isn’t an easy task, especially if you sit in an office all day. Fortunately, at Block Chiropractic Sports & Wellness a chiropractor in Selden is here to help you maintain good posture.

Good posture is important for many reasons:

• Helps us stand, walk, sit, and lie in positions that place the least strain on supporting muscles while moving and moments of activity
• Keeps bones and joints in the correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly
• Helps decrease:
  • abnormal wearing of joints which could later result in arthritis
  • the stress on the ligaments holding the joints of the spine together
• Prevents:
  • strain
  • overuse
  • backache
  • muscular pain
  • the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions
  • fatigue because muscles are being used more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy
• Contributes to a good appearance

It is important to know that good posture is needed always. Not matter if you’re sitting, standing, or laying down, posture always matters! A chiropractor in Selden will be able to help correct your posture, but for now here are some tips on how to have good posture.

Sitting

• Don’t cross your legs. Your ankles should be in front of your knees
• Keep a small gap between the back of your knees and the front of your seat
• Have your knees at or below the level of your hips
• Adjust the backrest of your chair in order to support your low- and mid-back
• Relax your shoulders
• Keep your forearms parallel to the ground
• Try not to sit in the same position for long periods of time

Standing

• Keep your weight on the balls of your feet
• Have your knees slightly bent and your feet about shoulder-width apart
• Let your arms hang naturally down the sides of your body
• Stand tall with your shoulders pulled backward
• Tuck your stomach in
• Do not push your head forward, backward, or to the side, keep your head level
• If you have to stand for a long time, shift your weight from your toes to your heels, or one foot to the other

Laying Down

• Find the mattress that is right for you. While a firm mattress is generally recommended, some people find that softer mattresses reduce their back pain
• Sleep with a pillow
• Avoid sleeping on your stomach
• Sleeping on your side or back is more often helpful for back pain
  • If you sleep on your side, place a pillow between your legs
  • If you sleep on your back, keep a pillow under your knees

If you think you’re posture isn’t up to par or you are suffering from chronic back pain a chiropractor in Selden at Block Chiropractic Sports & Wellness is here to help you get yourself upright!