Posture Related Problems and How to Prevent Them
Posture issues are extremely common in today’s world. Whether incurred from a physical trauma or from a lifetime of poor habits, bad posture can have serious health ramifications. Aches and pains in your muscles and joints, as well as persistent fatigue, are common ailments due to poor posture, with more serious ailments including osteoarthritis, depression, and difficulty breathing.
The first area to consider is your work environment. If you work in an office, sitting at your desk for hours on end can wreak havoc on your back. To start, be conscious of how you’re sitting! You want to make sure you are sitting back and not slouching. If you look ahead while in this position, the monitor needs to be at eye level; if it isn’t, your monitor height needs to be adjusted. A chair designed for spine support rather than a straight-backed chair is optimal. In addition, it is important you take breaks away from your desk whenever possible. Little changes such as conducting phone or conference calls standing up or walking to other offices or cubicles to send a message rather than using e-mail can have a huge impact on your health. If possible, consider purchasing a standing desk. This will do wonders for your spine as well as help burn more calories throughout the day.
If you are overweight or obese, your weight can have a huge impact on your muscle strength. Maintaining good posture is more laborious due to being overweight and can turn your default sitting position into a slouch. Losing weight via proper nutrition and exercise will exponentially help your posture.
An important area to examine when looking to correct your posture is your sleeping environment. It is extremely important that your sleeping arrangements are conducive to your health as we spend a large percentage of our lives in bed. Your mattress should be firm, not soft, as this will help provide the most support. Sleeping on your side is the optimal position for your spine, followed by sleeping on your back. Do not sleep on your stomach! When sleeping on your side or back, you’ll want to ensure that the pillows are not under your shoulders, but only under your neck and head. Also, placing a pillow between your knees as you sleep on your side can help your hips stay aligned.
There are many daily activities we can do that will improve our posture as well as prevent posture issues down the line. By keeping these in mind, we can look forward to a pain-free retirement.
Did you know that you have Direct Access to Physical Therapy? No referral is needed. We offer the best Physical Therapy on Long Island where you can get help from our trusted and expert Physical Therapists. To start your Physical Therapy evaluation, call Park Physical Therapy at (516) 798-3789 today!
