Good posture is essential for more than a healthy spine, it’s essential to your overall health. Posture helps you stand, walk, sit and lie in positions that place the least strain on your supporting muscles and ligaments.
Some other ways good posture can impact your health:
- Keeps your bones and joints in correct alignment
- Can lessen your risk of degenerative arthritis and joint pain
- Reduces stress on your ligaments
- Minimizes the risk of an injury
- Allows muscles to work more efficiently
- Can prevent muscle strains and pain
- Can open up the airways and ensure proper breathing
- Can improve your appearance
Now that you know how proper posture can help you, here are some tips for maintaining good posture.
Good Standing Posture
Many people may be surprised to find out that there is a right and wrong way to stand. To stand properly, most of your weight should be on the balls of your feet. Knees should be slightly bent with your feet shoulder-width apart. Stand up straight with your shoulders pulled back and stomach tucked in. Your earlobes should line up with your shoulders, which means you’re avoiding slouching and pushing your head/neck forward.
Good Posture When Sitting
Keep your feet firmly planted on the floor. Try to keep a small space between the back of your knees and front of your seat. Your knees should be at or below the same level of your hips. Sit up, keep your shoulders back and back straight, however, you should try to be relaxed rather than tense in this position. Your earlobes, shoulders, and hips should be aligned while seated.
Easy Ways to Improve Your Posture
Maintaining good posture is often easier said than done.
Good posture while standing can be improved by using purses, bags or backpacks that minimize back strain. Supportive footwear can also help you maintain good posture while standing. If you need to stand for a long period of time, propping one leg on a footrest, wearing supportive shoes, or placing a rubber mat on the floor can provide relief.
Millions of workers sit for extended periods of time, which can make maintaining good posture all day difficult. Ergonomic office chairs with back support can be helpful. Footrests, lumbar back support accessories, and adjusting your computer screen so your neck stays in a neutral position (you’re not looking up or down at it), can all help you maintain good posture.
Chiropractic care, such as adjustments and exercise recommendations, can also help you improve and maintain good posture.
