Sit up straight, Mom always said. And she was right. Good posture not makes a good impression — standing up straight is good for your health.Posture is the position in which we hold our bodies while standing, sitting or lying down. Good posture helps us stand, walk, sit, and lie in positions that place the least strain on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement and weight-bearing activities.Normally, we do not consciously maintain normal posture. Instead, certain muscles do it for us, and we don’t even have to think about it. Several muscle groups, including the hamstrings and large back muscles, are critically important in maintaining good posture. While the ligaments help to hold the skeleton together, these postural muscles, when functioning properly, prevent the forces of gravity from pushing us over forward. Postural muscles also maintain our posture and balance during movement.
Most of us will admit we have bad posture. We also think about correcting that poor posture at least a couple of times throughout the day (especially for those of us who are sitting behind a desk). Typically, we’ll make a conscious effort to sit or stand up straight—for a minute or two—until our minds begin to wander to something else and slouching resumes. It happens to the best of us.
How can you re-train your mind and body to be posture-focused all day long?
Here’s a two tips:
1. Take a picture
Have a friend take a picture of your natural sitting and standing posture and then critically evaluate yourself in the photos. Are your shoulders level? How is each side of your body positioned? Once you see what your posture looks like to others, it’s easy to make postural changes and improvements and be more conscious of how you look throughout the day.
2. Set reminders
Set an alarm on your phone for a quick posture check once an hour and make adjustments as necessary. Are you sitting up straight or are you beginning to slouch? Are your shoulders relaxed? Are your feet planted on the floor or are your legs crossed? Is your head bent towards your computer? Setting up your workstation as ergonomically as possible will help ensure you maintain good posture.
Regular chiropractic care helps maintain proper spinal alignment, which will also help you improve your posture. Call our office today at 425-778-9600 for a consultation.
