Posture is the way you physically carry or hold your body. The way in which you choose to hold your posture determines the way your bones and muscle structures align, starting with your head all the way down to your feet. Correct posture keeps these structures in line and helps the body support itself. Incorrect posture allows bones and muscles to move out of alignment, causing noticeable effects to your body.
Fatigue
One of the most common negative effects of bad posture is fatigue. Your muscles depend on proper bone alignment to create structure and support for their movement. When bad posture puts your skeleton out of alignment, certain muscles have to work harder to compensate, which can result in fatigue.
Spine
Bad posture also affects your spinal column. Bad posture can place your spine out of alignment, which can result in problems such as herniated discs, especially in the lumbar region of the spine. Herniated discs occur when the disc between two spinal bones is forced into a position that places pressure on a spinal nerve. This can result in chronic pain and numbness.
Internal Organs
Poor posture also places undue stress on your internal organs. When you practice good posture, the abdomen is open, and each organ can operate without pressure on it. Bad posture constricts the motion of the organs, making it difficult for them to work at full capacity.
Pain
Bad posture may cause pain. The change in skeletal structure that occurs with bad posture can create excess stress on the muscles of the back, as well as the lumbar region of the spine. This can result in pulled muscles, ligaments and tendons as well as the possibility of painful pinched nerves. Bad posture may also cause pain in other muscles of your body, such as in the neck and shoulders. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, this muscle stress may also contribute to the development of tension headaches.
Range of Motion
Bad posture may also affect your range of motion over time. Your range of motion refers to the distance your joints, muscles and ligaments--such as in your neck, arms, legs and hips--allow your body to move. As bad posture changes the alignment of your body, your muscles compensate to prevent you from collapsing. This can result in tighter muscles and ligaments, which restrict the distance or direction each body part can move.
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