The lower back contains muscles known as the erector spinae. This area is part of your body's core musculature. Strengthening your lower back can prevent painful situations and also help you maintain proper postural alignment. When using a Fitball...
Poor posture usually results in back pain, a condition that can cause great discomfort. Some pillows are designed specifically to help improve your posture. They might force you to sit or lie down in a way that benefits your spine or shoulders....
Poor posture is a common problem for many people. Incorrect standing and sitting positions and long hours spent hunched over in front of a computer or steering wheel can cause pain due to poor posture. Fortunately, you can perform exercises to...
According to the Cleveland Clinic, proper posture decreases abnormal wearing of the joints, prevents fatigue, strain and injury and even helps you look better. Unfortunately, many people spend much of their day sitting in office chairs or driving...
Poor posture is a primary cause of back pain, according to Richard Brennan, author of "The Alexander Technique Manual." Chiropractors in the United States receive over 100 million visits annually from patients suffering from back pain....
Sleeping or lying down in positions that weaken the muscles and stretch the ligaments of the lower back can cause poor posture and aggravate back problems and pain. The body curves inward naturally at the lumbar area, at the small of the back...
If you have chronic back problems or experience back pain after a long time working at your desk, the way you sit and what you sit in can play a huge role. Back pain can be prevented and relieved when you have the right chair cushion to keep you...
Long-term low back pain is called chronic and short-term pain is called acute. Factors such as arthritis, sudden sharp movements and siting for long periods of time on a daily basis can all contribute to pain. Low back pain is the number two...
If you are looking to add variety to your abdominal workout while also increasing the intensity and calorie burn, working with an abs ball is the way to go. Abdominal exercises on a stability ball require you to work more of your core and other...
Proper posture can decrease the risk of developing arthritis, prevent fatigue, prevent muscle or back pain and even improve physical appearance, says the Cleveland Clinic. Although many people think of standing up straight when they think of the...
Proper posture is important for several reasons. According to the Cleveland Clinic, good posture decreases stress on ligaments, keeps the bones and joints aligned correctly so the muscles can work best and prevents or reduces backaches. Practicing...
If you have a job that requires you to sit for prolonged periods of time, it is important to develop good posture while sitting. Improving sitting posture has numerous benefits, including less stress placed on the ligaments, fewer or less severe...
In the information age, few people in the United States can avoid prolonged periods of sitting. Even if you do not use a computer at work, you probably use one at home for research, banking, shopping, playing games or communicating with family and...
You may not think about it much during the day, but your posture can have a large bearing on how you feel throughout the day. Your posture is linked to your spine and neck health. With a sore, twisted spine, you can experience back pain,...
Correct posture involves the the ability of the spine and the surrounding muscles to support themselves against gravity. Without correct posture and the musculature to support it, you would simply fall over. You have the ability to correct your...
Maintaining good posture not only keeps you looking healthy and fit, it helps support your muscles and ligaments. By practicing good posture, you can avoid straining or overusing ligaments and joint surfaces. Poor posture is associated with...
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, sciatica refers to symptoms of irritation of the sciatic nerve. Sciatica can be caused by a variety of ailments, the most common being disk disorders such as herniated disks, spinal...
A healthy spine consists of natural curves at the base of the neck, lumbars and the middle of the back. These curves protect the spine from impact caused by daily activities. Correct posture places the spine in a "neutral" position where the body...
Gyms contain a machine to work every conceivable muscle in your body. The idea is to provide something for everybody, meeting as many peoples’ exercise needs as possible so they’ll be willing to pay for a gym membership. But not all of...
Posture is defined as the manner in which the body is held upright against gravity as it's sitting down, lying down or standing up. Good posture may require a bit of training, with the goal of having the least amount of strain placed on the...
In today's culture, many people find themselves sitting in front of a computer screen all day at work and a television screen once they get home. Children can often be found slouched over video game controllers for hours on end. These activities...
Poor posture affects the entire body, contributing to a variety of aches, pains and health issues. Learning to use the principles of good posture to keep your body properly aligned can prevent many of these problems, as well as improving...
A pedal bike can be useful in losing weight for those who are bedridden or wheelchair-bound and have little other opportunity for physical activity. Those who are active also can lose weight with the equipment by adding extra components to the...
The leg press is one of the first machines beginning exercisers learn how to use. All leg presses have a seat with a backrest--sometimes adjustable--and a mobile platform. You either select a weight from the weight stack or load the appropriate...
Back pain is fairly common in adults, especially those who are older, according to the American Geriatrics Society. Back pain can be a symptom of a serious problem such as a vertebral fracture, arthritis, slipped disk, irritation of the sciatic...
People spend a significant portion of their lives in bed. Without a proper night's sleep, it's difficult to function properly. Improper sleeping positions can place tremendous strain on the body, resulting in back and neck pain. Adopting proper...
Using proper body mechanics when performing any activity is paramount for protecting yourself from injury. This is because good body mechanics reduces unnecessary stress on the spine while you perform functional tasks. When you get in and out of...
If your mother constantly reminded you to stand up straight, she was right. Improper posture can distort the natural curve of the spine, resulting in muscle strain and fatigue, according to the American Physical Therapy Association. Eventually,...
A slipped disc, or herniated disc, does not actually pop out of place in the vertebral column, as popularly believed, but bulges out and places pressure on the spinal column, leading to pain and discomfort. If you have lower back pain from a...
