Did you know good posture can offer important long-term health benefits?

Posture is the position in which you hold your body while standing, walking, sitting, or lying down.

And doing those activities the right way can lead to reduced back pain, a decreased risk of injury, reduced stress on muscles and joints along with improved circulation, digestion, and respiration.

Good posture involves getting your body to stand, walk, lay or sit in an optimal position, placing the least amount of strain possible on your muscles while you’re moving, or performing daily activities.

Let’s talk about how to improve your posture.

How to Improve Your Posture

What are Some Characteristics of Good Posture?

• There is normal motion in the joints.
• You have strong postural muscles.
• You have good muscle flexibility.
• Having a balance of muscles on both sides of the spine.
• You feel an awareness of your own posture, leading to conscious correction.

What are Postural Muscles?

Postural muscles, also called core stability muscles, are the deep muscles found in your abdomen, pelvis and back. In the abdomen there are actually four layers of muscles. They act as a type of scaffolding holding you together.

It’s important to develop and maintain good postural muscles to have and keep good posture.

How Do You Build Postural Muscle?

Focus on exercises that strengthen your core, such as crunches or sit-ups.

Some of these muscles move your torso by rotating your spine, while others stabilize your pelvis and spine in a natural position.

Why Do I Slouch?

When fatigued muscles no longer provide stability, the spine has to rely on the more passive structures of the musculoskeletal system for support.

The spine gradually loses its natural cervical and lumbar curves without that ideal muscular support, and becomes more slouched.

Why is My Posture So Bad?

Bad posture may occur due to an injury, illness, or even genetics. Lifestyle factors or lack of physical exercise can be a contributing factor.

Bad posture can also occur from things like the daily effects of gravity on our bodies. A combination of these factors is common.

Can You Correct Years of Bad Posture?

It’s possible to make improvements even if your posture has been a problem for years.

Can a Chiropractor Fix Posture?

Yes, a chiropractor can help you with poor posture issues such as slouching and can realign your spine to keep the body functioning optimally.

A chiropractor can help with fixing bad posture by finding the underlying cause of your issues.

By identifying and correcting the root cause of your bad posture, you can gain insight into your issues and potentially avoid past behaviours that may have contributed to your problems.

How Can I Correct My Posture Naturally?

• Keep your shoulders back and relaxed.
• Keep your feet at hip distance apart.
• Keep your weight balanced on both feet.
• Pull in your abdomen.

Try to consciously keep your body in good alignment, allowing for the spine’s natural curvature, and with your neck straight and shoulders aligned with your hips.

Does Massage Help Posture?

Massage can loosen and relax the muscles that have been made sore by bad posture, allowing your body to position itself in a natural and pain-free position.

With continued ongoing massage, the muscles are loosened, relaxed joints have more freedom and pressure points are relieved.

Can Yoga Fix Posture?

Yoga for posture increases flexibility and strength, while offering relaxation and stress management. Research has shown therapeutic yoga exercises help improve posture and overall back health.

Does Lying On The Floor Straighten Your Back?

It might be true that sleeping on the floor can improve posture. The spine is more prone to curving on a soft surface, so sleeping on a firmer surface can help align and straighten your spine and neck.

Final Thoughts:

Many of us are spending our days hunched over in front of a computer, and it’s important for us to be able to stretch, stand up, walk around and not remain in one position all day. When working at a desk, try to sit up straight with tall posture and your shoulders back and relaxed.

Eat healthy, get plenty of rest, and stay hydrated.

Consider a visit to a chiropractor, masseuse, or reflexologist.

And finally, try core-strengthening exercises, and over time your body will naturally want to rest in a more natural position.

Read More:

How to Improve Your Posture