How Can I Correct My Posture?

Bad posture not only looks unattractive, it is a major cause of neck pain, lower back pain, headaches and even attention disorders.

It also contributes to the long term consequences of poor health.

Tension headaches and lower back pain are very often down to bad posture, as are shoulder and neck pain.

If you are suffering from bad posture, you probably fall into one of two categories; you have bad posture due to back pain, or you have back pain due to bad posture.

Did you know that bad posture can cause GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) symptoms, constipation and other functional problems too?

It can rob you of energy as you feel more tired due to discomfort or pain and can also affect the quality of the sleep you have, which further adds to general lethargy in a vicious cycle.

Poor posture also accelerates scoliosis, where the spine is curved from side to side. This can lead to decreased organ function and deformities and this in turn can contribute to depression.

Having a poor posture can have a profound negative effect on the quality of your life and is usually the consequence of years of bad habits.

Furthermore, it has also been linked to an increased risk of developing arthritis due to the abnormal wearing of bone surfaces.

Having a bad posture also makes you look older and this of course can impact your self esteem too.

Fortunately, in most cases bad posture is not irreparable, although the longer you have put up with it without resolving the issue, the more difficult and longer it will take to resolve.

This is because your body has adjusted and adapted to your posture.

You won't be able to get rid of bad posture over night, but the sooner you start to work on it, the sooner you will be able to reap the benefits.

One of the major caused of bad posture is tense muscles which pull the body out of alignment.

So by releasing muscle muscle tension you will learn to feel how a balanced alignment feels.

There are may ways that you can achieve this. You can try some simple relaxation techniques combined with some help and treatment from your local Chiropractor.

A relaxing massage isn't going to cure poor posture, but it can help alleviate some muscle tension and may be worth considering.

Yoga, Tai-Chi and Pilates may also be beneficial and can help by teaching you with stretching, relaxing and exercising muscles. Why not see if there are classes that you can try?

Tightening and strengthening your core muscles, that is the muscles at the center of your body, including the deep abdominal muscles and the muscles closest to the spine can also help to improve your posture. This can be achieved by performing sit ups, but go steady with this. If you haven't done any exercises for a long time, start slowly until you are comfortable with gradually increasing the number that you can do.

When you are standing, make a conscious effort to stand with your tummy and butt tucked in and relax your shoulders. Imagine that a string is attached to the top of your head and is pulling you up straight.

When you are at your desk, avoid slouching or leaning forward, especially when you are tired from sitting in your office chair for long periods.

Be sure that your office chair is ergonomically designed to properly support your back and that it is a custom fit.

When sitting on an office chair at a desk, your arms should be flexed at a 75 to 90 degree angle at the elbows and your feet should be flat on the floor.

If your feet do not reach the floor, then a footrest is an absolute must.

Sit tall and pull your shoulders back.

Don't sit for too long, get up, walk around and stretch occassionally.

Having good posture allows your nervous system to function correctly which results in improved sleep, more energy, increased strength & flexibility and better overall health.

One of the fastest way to improve your appearance is to improve your posture, so do yourself a big favour, free yourself from discomfort, pay attention to your posture and work on ways to improve it.

You'll feel better and you'll look better, all for a little extra effort!

How Can I Correct My Posture?