Posture Improvement

Daily Health Solutions, Healthy Living
on August 13, 2011
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Back pain is one of the most common complaints in adults of all ages — and a very large portion of back pain cases can be prevented or improved with posture improvement. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Good posture involves training your body to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement or weight-bearing activities.” Often, back pain is either caused or aggravated by bad posture, and posture issues can also leave you more vulnerable to further injury.

Bad posture problems. In general, bad posture is defined as holding yourself in a way that does not allow the three natural curves in your back to remain neutral. This could cause excessive strain on your back muscles, especially if you’re overweight or stay in a position with bad posture over extended periods of time. Bad posture has the potential to compress intervertebral discs, impinge on various nerves throughout the body and cause pain in the hips as a result of sitting incorrectly.

How posture can be corrected. If you’re already suffering from back pain, your doctor may be able to suggest a number of small changes you can make in the way you move, sit and sleep. Different types of back braces may also help take the strain off your back while it’s healing, as well as give you a better idea how a good posture feels. In severe cases, such as with spine disorders such as scoliosis, surgery may be recommended to correct malformations that cause bad posture.

Benefits of correcting posture. Maintaining good posture will not only help alleviate back pain, but it will also possibly prevent recurrence of your idiopathic chronic back pain. In addition, good posture may have a number of other health benefits. You may discover that it’s easier to lift weights, walk or jog than before. Unexplained headaches or migraines may dissipate, as these can sometimes be caused by strain from bad posture. Finally, you will find that holding a position for extended periods of time will become more comfortable once your body adjusts to keeping a good posture.