Aches and Pains? Improve Your Posture
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How often do you notice your posture? I am sitting at a desk for a bulk of my day and sometimes I experience pain in my neck and shoulders which usually causes a headache. It is then I realize how poor my posture was as I was sitting all day. The biggest example of poor posture is slouching. After sitting for hours at a time, I end up slouching quite often.
Importance of good posture
Having good posture reduces the strain placed on the joints, ligaments, and helps to evenly distribute our body weight. It helps reduce back pain which is a common issue for a majority of people.
Some damaging effects of poor posture include:
There are several negative effects of poor posture. Some major ones are listed below.
- Bones are improperly aligned
- Ligaments, joints, and muscle are strained
- Compression of blood vessels and nerves
- Can cause fatigue
- Can lead to spine problems (discs)
- Can cause problems with major organs
Ways to improve posture
Sitting at a desk all day is one of the biggest causes of poor posture. If this is the case for you, one way to help posture is by using an ergonomic chair and taking advantage of the lumbar support. You can also stand up more often and stretch.
Strengthening your core muscles can also help improve your posture. Yoga and some pilates exercises can also help your posture.
Overall, it helps to try to become more aware of your posture in your day to day activities. Particularly while standing and sitting. Try to keep your shoulders down (not hunched towards the ears) and pull your abs slightly in. Your head should also not be jutting forward.
Focus on improving your posture to see if it helps relieve some of the minor aches and pains you may have been experiencing.
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This is so true. I sit at a desk for most of my day and find myself slouching from time to time. Strengthening the stomach muscles will help in posture as well and it’s good for your back too.