Are you experiencing pain in your lower back, neck, or head? This may have developed as a result of poor posture. Whether it’s from slouching in your chair at work or gardening outside, having poor posture can result in negative long-term effects on the spine. Poor posture can constrict your blood vessels and nerves, which is dangerous if it is continued repeatedly for an extended period of time. By being aware of your posture and practicing good habits, you can prevent back pain in your future.

Contributing factors of poor posture:

• • Sedentary lifestyle

• • Occupational demands

• • Joint stiffness

• • Decreased fitness

• • Muscle weakness

• • Poor core stability

• • Muscle tightness

Negative effects of bad posture:

• Chronic pain: Bad posture causes increased stress on your back which can also lead to increased pain in other areas like your hips, neck, shoulders, and more.
• Poor circulation: Bad posture is not limited to how you sit in a chair. By slouching when doing any activity, you are damaging your spine. Continued bad posture can increase pressure on your back and cause pain and spider veins due to poor circulation.
• Digestive issues: Poor posture restricts your intestines, which could make digestion difficult. Your digestive organs are unable to function properly when your back is not aligned.
• Change in the spinal curve: By constantly sitting or standing incorrectly, you are putting yourself at risk of permanent changes in your spinal curve. This unnatural position can cause pain in your lower back, shoulders, and more.
• Headaches: By constantly hanging your head down and not practicing proper alignment, you may be putting extra strain on your spine, causing headaches.
• Poor sleeping habits: Our body can’t completely relax unless it is fully aligned. As a result, having poor posture may prevent you from getting enough rest.

Exercises to help fix your posture:

Figuring out which exercises will benefit you the most can be tricky. You can end up spending hours on Google searching things like “improve posture exercises” or  “how to train posture”. Luckily when you make an appointment for chiropractor physical therapy, at Block Chiropractic and Sports Physical Therapy, our team can teach you the following exercises:

• Kneeling stretch
• Crunch with twist
• Planks
• Back extensions
• Shoulder row
• Seated twist
• Kneeling Spine Twist

How Block Sports Chiropractic & Physical Therapy Could Help You

At Block Sports Chiropractic & Physical Therapy, our team values the importance of good posture. We will work with you to ensure that you are receiving the best possible care. Visit us today to start improving your posture!