You might be wondering what is a good posture? What kind of benefits does good posture have? Why is it so important?
Posture refers to the alignment of the body and its positioning with respect to the gravity force of the earth. Whether we are sitting, lying down, or standing; gravity exerts a force on our ligaments, joints, and muscles. A good posture will allow you to evenly distribute the gravity force throughout your body so that no single structure faces extra stress.
10 Benefits Of Good Posture
- Reduced low back pain. If you sit or stand in a slumped position for a long period of time then your lower back will be stressed. More specifically, it will put extra pressure on the lower structures of the spine which includes the facet joints, muscles, intervertebral discs, and ligaments.
- Fewer headaches. A poor posture can lead to increased muscle tension in the back of your neck which can lead to severe headaches. We can reduce tension in our muscles and relieve headaches if we improve our posture.
- Increased energy levels. You will be able to use your muscles as you intend once your joints and bones are correctly aligned. Therefore, you will have more energy and less fatigue. Simply put, your muscles won’t have to work extra hard to do their job, freeing up the extra energy for you to use for other tasks.
- Less tension in your shoulders and neck. A poor posture exerts a lot of strain on the shoulders, neck, and upper back. If you adopt the correct posture than your joints and ligaments will be correctly aligned. Hence your joints and ligaments will be less stressed and less vulnerable to chronic pain.
- Decreased risk of abnormal wearing of the joint surfaces. The curved posture of standing or sitting, such as resting on one leg or side of your body can lead to a hip strain. Our joints tend to wear down naturally over time. Not many problems arise if your posture is even. But you can suffer severe pain and other problems if your posture is uneven.
- Increased lung capacity. You compress your lungs if you are sitting or standing in a slumped position. If you tend to sit or stand straight then your lungs will have more space to expand. Simply put a good posture helps with your breathing, which in turn helps to oxygenate all your tissues.
- Improved circulation and digestion. You will have poor blood circulation if you are compressing your vital organs. This will lead to these organs not working well. Proper posture is required for healthy blood flow. Hence you should avoid positions which hinder blood circulation such as crossing your legs.
- Reduced TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain. Our jaw muscles and mandibular joint incurs tension and stress when we have a forward head position. This can lead to pain while talking, eating, and yawning.
- Improved core and scapular strength. Maintaining a good posture requires muscular effort. If you have a good posture than your upper back and core muscles will remain engaged and active.
- Better form during your workouts. Our posture also affects us when we are exercising or other physical activities. For instance, having an engaged core and neutral spine while performing a squat will help you in preventing any injury.
The Takeaway
While most of us have heard the phrase “stand up straight and don’t slouch!”, it is easy to forget exactly how important those wise words are for our health. Proper posture is crucial as it places your body in alignment so that stress on supporting ligaments, tendons, and muscles is limited. Poor posture can often lead to discomfort and injury.
If you are interested in learning more about health and wellness, I encourage you to schedule an appointment with one of our trusted practitioners at SHIN Wellness. We offer many holistic treatments such as Decompression Therapy, Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Neurofeedback, Psychology, Reiki, Nutrition, Corrective Exercises, and Massage. If you need some help figuring out what service is right for you, try our personalized consultation. Our Wellness Center and Chiropractor office in Miami Florida specializes in restoring your health!
