With a tip of the hat to National Arbor Day, I thought I would talk about the importance of Good Posture. Good Posture means people are standing tall and many native American Cultures consider trees “standing people”. Hence the link in my head (I am a little touched 😊). Good Posture isn’t just to look proper or have that old tape of your mom “sit up straight” stop ringing in your ear. Good Posture is one way all of us can better our health and increase our confidence. Yep, you read that right.
Here is a list of some of the things good posture does for your health:
- Reduce low back pain
- Prevent osteoporosis
- Lower the risk of heart attack and stroke
- Improve blood flow and help with digestion
- Increased Energy
- Stay balanced and decrease chances for a fall
- Higher lung capacity
- Fewer headaches
- Increased Confidence
- Lift spirits and decrease feelings of depression
Some of you are saying how can something so simple effect so much of our health. Well two short answers are:
- “posture refers to the body's alignment and positioning with respect to the ever-present force of gravity. Whether we are standing, sitting, or lying down gravity exerts a force on our joints, ligaments, and muscles. Good posture entails distributing the force of gravity through our body so no one structure is overstressed.” FRANK J. D'AMBROSIO, PT quoted from Southern California Orthopedic Institute article.
- Good blood circulation is necessary for oxygen and nutrients to reach your cells which in turn leads to them functioning properly.
If there is no added stress due to poor alignment and all the cells are getting the nutrients and oxygen to perform at their best, well no wonder you have more energy, more confidence, and can lift your spirits! It surely is not a magic bullet, but Good Posture assists with everything.
Which brings us to the question, what is Good Posture? According to Harvard Medical School article
When standing:
• chin parallel to the floor
• shoulders even (roll your shoulders up, back, and down to help achieve this)
• neutral spine (no flexing or arching to overemphasize the curve in your lower back)
• arms at your sides with elbows straight and even
• abdominal muscles braced
• hips even
• knees even and pointing straight ahead
• body weight distributed evenly on both feet
When sitting down, keep your chin parallel to the floor; your shoulders, hips, and knees at even heights; and your knees and feet pointing straight ahead.
If you’re having trouble with maintaining any of the above, it may not be just a bad habit that you are trying to break. There are a few reasons why you may find it difficult to maintain Good Posture. First is as we get older (some start as early as age 50) our vertebrae and discs begin to break down and thin. At the same time, the cartilage and connective tissues in the spine also start to lose their thickness and elasticity. Second is lack of flexibility. Inflexible muscles that decrease range of motion which in turn pulls on other muscles and bring you out of alignment. The last one is the lack of strength in your core and/or leg muscles. Weak core muscles encourage slumping which pulls your body forward and off balance. Strong leg muscles allow one to stay steady on your feet. Therefore, if your legs are weak you can end up leaning, tilting, or swaying.
Need help correcting your posture, flexibility, or core/leg strength? Click “Request Information” at the top or bottom of this page or give us a call today. We will work together to get you standing tall!
