No one likes to look or feel slouched when they’re sitting. Have you ever seen someone working at their desk and they’re so hunched over that it looks uncomfortable? Unfortunately, poor posture is a bigger problem than most people realize.
Not only does it look uncomfortable, but not sitting or standing properly can have damaging effects. Poor posture limits blood flow and doesn’t allow your body to support your muscles, tendons, and ligaments the way it should.
As a result, people who don’t sit properly tend to suffer from neck and back pain. If you’re dealing with pain, going to a spine specialist like Sydney Spine & Pain (sydneyspinepain.com) can help, the best thing is always to prevent a problem before it starts.
By working on your posture now, you can avoid a lot of intense pain in the future. Thankfully, improving your position is easier than you might think. Let’s cover a few simple ways to sit up straighter and feel better.
1. Choose the Right Chair
Far too many people struggle with poor posture simply because they’re using the wrong chair. If you’re sitting for most of your day, choose a chair that’s the right height for your needs. It should allow you to keep your feet firmly planted on the floor while leaning back against it for support. If you’re looking at a computer, make sure it’s at eye-level once you’re sitting down. This will keep you from straining your neck.
Nowadays, it’s easy to find an ergonomic chair that can do wonders for your posture and help to improve your pain.
2. Stand Up Straight
Standing up straight isn’t just something your parents told you to do as a child. Practicing standing tall can actually improve your posture. Standing the wrong way, on the other hand, could be damaging your back.
To stand with proper posture, make sure you’re standing straight with your shoulders slightly pulled back. Keep your knees slightly bent and your stomach tucked in. You shouldn’t be uncomfortable, but you should make a conscious effort to stand the right way until it becomes second nature and you do it out of habit.
3. Do a Few Exercises
If you’re already experiencing back, neck, or shoulder pain from poor posture, there are a few different exercises you can do in the privacy of your own home that can help.
One of the most soothing is called “child’s pose”. This yoga move consists of starting with your hands and knees on the floor.
From that position, slide your hips toward your feet, and your hands out in front of you. Rest your forehead gently on the floor, and take a few slow, deep breaths as you begin to understand how important stretching and breathing are for your posture.
There are plenty of other exercises that can reduce back pain and make you more aware of your posture, including shoulder blade squeezes.
The most important thing to keep in mind, however, is that it isn’t always easy to “notice” your own bad posture. Start paying attention to how you sit for long periods of time, or talk to someone about it and have them hold you accountable. The more active you are now in improving your posture, the less pain you’re likely to experience in the future.
Not only does it look uncomfortable, but not sitting or standing properly can have damaging effects. Poor posture limits blood flow and doesn’t allow your body to support your muscles, tendons, and ligaments the way it should.
As a result, people who don’t sit properly tend to suffer from neck and back pain. If you’re dealing with pain, going to a spine specialist like Sydney Spine & Pain (sydneyspinepain.com) can help, the best thing is always to prevent a problem before it starts.
By working on your posture now, you can avoid a lot of intense pain in the future. Thankfully, improving your position is easier than you might think. Let’s cover a few simple ways to sit up straighter and feel better.
1. Choose the Right Chair
Far too many people struggle with poor posture simply because they’re using the wrong chair. If you’re sitting for most of your day, choose a chair that’s the right height for your needs. It should allow you to keep your feet firmly planted on the floor while leaning back against it for support. If you’re looking at a computer, make sure it’s at eye-level once you’re sitting down. This will keep you from straining your neck.
Nowadays, it’s easy to find an ergonomic chair that can do wonders for your posture and help to improve your pain.
2. Stand Up Straight
Standing up straight isn’t just something your parents told you to do as a child. Practicing standing tall can actually improve your posture. Standing the wrong way, on the other hand, could be damaging your back.
To stand with proper posture, make sure you’re standing straight with your shoulders slightly pulled back. Keep your knees slightly bent and your stomach tucked in. You shouldn’t be uncomfortable, but you should make a conscious effort to stand the right way until it becomes second nature and you do it out of habit.
3. Do a Few Exercises
If you’re already experiencing back, neck, or shoulder pain from poor posture, there are a few different exercises you can do in the privacy of your own home that can help.
One of the most soothing is called “child’s pose”. This yoga move consists of starting with your hands and knees on the floor.
From that position, slide your hips toward your feet, and your hands out in front of you. Rest your forehead gently on the floor, and take a few slow, deep breaths as you begin to understand how important stretching and breathing are for your posture.
There are plenty of other exercises that can reduce back pain and make you more aware of your posture, including shoulder blade squeezes.
The most important thing to keep in mind, however, is that it isn’t always easy to “notice” your own bad posture. Start paying attention to how you sit for long periods of time, or talk to someone about it and have them hold you accountable. The more active you are now in improving your posture, the less pain you’re likely to experience in the future.
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