It's very easy to underestimate the importance of good posture. Your body is naturally aligned so all of its parts work together with minimal effort. Practicing good posture encourages harmonious cooperation between your spine, muscles, tendons and ligaments, enabling fluid body movement, balance and stability. Practicing bad posture places an excessive strain on your muscles, causing uncomfortable pain and misalignment.
Pain
Back, neck and shoulder pain are among the most common consequences of prolonged bad posture. When you sit, stand or perform tasks in an improper postural position, your body will not function as efficiently as it should. Your muscles have to work harder and become tired more quickly. In addition to pain, bad posture can also lead to pinched nerves, constricted blood vessels and problems with your spine.
Causes
Pain from bad posture is a problem that develops over time. According to the American Chiropractic Association, pregnancy, obesity, tight or weak muscles and wearing high-heeled shoes are some of the most common causes of bad posture.
People with sedentary jobs can also develop poor posture at work. Sitting at a desk all day slouching in your chair and staring at your computer screen encourages muscle stagnation and painful muscle tightening.
Correcting Posture
Relieving pain by correcting bad posture is possible in many cases. To correct bad posture you will have to re-train your body by practicing correct posture every day.
Exercising is a good way to strengthen weakened muscles and encourage proper body positioning. Chiropractic adjustments can also help correct bad posture in some cases. Chiropractors use techniques like spinal adjustments and posture-correcting devices to help straighten the spine over time.
Proper Posture
According to the Mayo Clinic, a correct postural position is one that maintains the natural curves of your back without straining your muscles or causing pain. The Mayo Clinic defines proper standing posture as having your feet parallel to one another, your weight evenly balanced on both feet and your shoulders straight back and relaxed. The Mayo Clinic regards proper sitting posture as sitting upright with your back against the chair, your feet flat on the floor and your knees even with your hips.
Prevention
Pain from bad posture is usually preventable. When it comes to posture, practice makes perfect. Try to always remain conscious of your body positioning throughout the day. If you find yourself slouching forward or hunching over, remind yourself to straighten up.
When sitting in a chair for a long period of time, place a lumbar support pillow behind your lower back to help keep you upright. It is also important to take frequent breaks while you are at work. Getting up from your desk periodically to stretch and walk around can help prevent your muscles from becoming stiff and sore.
