The Importance Of Proper Posture

By Jay Cho, DC, LAc, FIAMA

Active Care Chiropractic & Acupuncture

. http://www.activecareclinic.com/

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The Importance Of Proper Posture

We all want to have good posture so that we sit straight and upright.  There is plenty of information out there that aims to help us achieve better posture but some may overlook the actual importance of posture and what causes bad posture. Proper posture is important because it helps the body function more efficiently by reducing the stress on our spine, ligaments and muscles. This ultimately reduces fatigue and strain on the body.

Poor posture actually forces the body to use more energy. Ideally, the body’s weight needs to be evenly spread so that we reduce the pressure on the joints and ligaments. Poor posture can make the body weak and change the way it moves.

Unfortunately, it is harder for some to achieve proper posture due to certain health conditions and causes such as:

• Workplace conditions (sitting at desk all day, lifting heavy objects, leaning and reaching)
• Congenital anomalies
• Scoliosis
• Abnormal spinal curvature
• Permanent physical change after injury
• Aging

It is also important to understand that some conditions such as the ones above may prevent you from completely achieving complete ideal posture. For example, if you have scoliosis, it may be difficult to achieve the most ideal posture but getting as close as possible is still advised. In this case, it may actually cause new symptoms if you try to straighten your body by yourself without a complete analysis and finding physical deviations.

Everyone’s body works differently. Your body’s physical deviations may be different than someone else’s. This means that the way of repairing your posture can also be completely different.

It is crucial to identify postural issues early on, especially those with congenital anomalies. An early start can help identify what is going on exactly in the body and what to do to improve posture without giving the body further symptoms or strain.

As we get older it is much harder to fix postural issues as some damage cannot be reversed and trying to fix that damage without the proper supervision of a health professional could make it worse.

Do not wait when concerning your postural health. Be aware of how you are sitting at your workstation, the posture you have when you are walking or even how you are sleeping at night in your bed. If you find that you need to mend your posture, consult with a proper health professional who can guide you along the way.