National Posture Month Helps People Improve Their Spine Health
The quality of our posture directly influences our physical, mental and emotional health. Though it plays a vital role in our daily quality of life, posture isn’t something most people are conscious of. A person’s posture develops out of habit. The less aware you are of your posture, the more likely you’ll suffer from symptoms of poor spinal alignment, such as chronic neck and back pain.
What Is Good Posture?
Good posture refers to a neutral position of the spine. Whether you’re standing, sitting or relaxing, a neutral posture causes the least amount of strain on the muscles and joints that support your bodyweight. While good posture may feel different for everyone depending on their unique body shape, these general tips can help you achieve a healthier spinal alignment:
- Shoulder blades pulled up and back but relaxed
- Chin stays elevated so that it’s parallel with the floor
- Lumbar spine is supported with no abnormal arching
- Hips and buttocks absorb weight evenly when seated
- Feet are evenly placed on the floor to balance bodyweight
Maintaining these good posture tips can keep you from slouching forwarding or putting too much weight on one side of the body over another. The result of good posture is a more balanced body that experiences less tension and pain as well as several other benefits for better health.
Good Posture Benefits
Maintaining good posture isn’t just a way to make yourself appear taller. Practicing proper spinal alignment also has important physical, mental and emotional health benefits for daily well-being and long-term quality of life. You can reverse or minimize many painful symptoms simply by adjusting your posture and remaining aware of your alignment throughout the day.
Spinal health experts, like Relax The Back, want everyone to know that developing good posture is an important commitment to your personal well-being. Here are some of the top reasons why proper posture is good for your health.
Prevents Injury and Pain
Maintaining good posture promotes the full and proper use of your muscles, which reduces the amount of weight your joints, ligaments and bones need to absorb to compensate. Incorrect posture puts unnecessary strain on your body, leading to chronic back, neck, hip, knee or foot pain, depending on what parts are most out of balance. Proper alignment prevents abnormal wear and tear on joint surfaces and spinal discs, decreasing the risk of developing chronic musculoskeletal conditions like arthritis and herniated discs.
Maintaining good posture also reduces your risk of injury during exercise or strenuous movements. Healthy joints supported by strong core and back muscles ensure safe and healthy movement and prevent fatigue while lifting, running or jumping.
Lowers Risk of Disease
Poor posture habits like slouching and hunching restrict your chest and abdominal cavities. When organs are compressed, they can’t function to their fullest capacity. Poor posture compresses the lungs, heart and digestive tract, possibly resulting in chronic respiratory, circulation and digestion symptoms. If you’re experiencing breathing problems or digestive issues, adjusting your posture may help you counter these issues and improve your quality of life.
Reduces Anxiety and Stress Levels
Your posture has a direct impact on your body’s central nervous system. Poor posture constricts nerves and blood vessels, which limits circulation and elevates blood pressure and heart rate, causing anxious feelings. Slouched posture also compresses the lungs and prevents you from taking fuller, deeper breaths, leading some people to feel a sense of panic.
A neutral posture keeps your chest open so that blood and oxygen can flow more freely. Better circulation helps you feel more at ease. Whenever you feel anxiety levels rising, you can try correcting your posture and breathing deeply to put yourself into a more relaxed state.
Improves Focus and Energy Levels
Because slouched posture limits your circulation, it also prevents your brain from getting high levels of oxygen, causing you to feel sluggish. When your body remains in a neutral posture, it helps boost levels of oxygenated blood to the brain. Increased oxygen in the brain alleviates mental fog and allows you to focus more clearly. As a result, you’ll feel more productive, accomplished and engaged in your work.
Boosts Confidence and Self-Esteem
Walking and sitting with your shoulders back and your head high is an instant confidence booster that contributes to a greater sense of self-esteem. It’s true that people with good posture tend to make a better first impression as their body language reflects higher confidence levels. Research has also found that people who maintain good posture actually feel more confident in their own thoughts and decisions.
Tips for Better Posture
Developing better posture requires more than remembering to stand up straight with your shoulders back. Good posture is the result of strength, mobility and balance that’s achieved with a more conscious lifestyle. Here are some tips for building better posture over time:
- Train Your Core: Your core is your body’s powerhouse, and it provides you with the central strength, balance and mobility you need to accomplish basic movements. Without a strong core keeping you stable, your back and shoulders will round, and your hips and knees will bear more bodyweight. This leads to a misaligned spine that causes chronic tension and pain. Working out your core to its fullest extent will greatly improve your body’s ability to keep upright.
- Improve Flexibility: Tight muscles and joints prevent your body from achieving its full range of motion. Limited mobility causes a shortening of the muscles around important joints like the hips, and can tilt the upper body forward out of alignment. To improve posture, it’s essential to stretch deeply and loosen tight connective tissue with self-massage and foam rolling.
- Adjust Your Environment: If you suffer from chronic back and neck pain due to poor posture, it’s important to look at how you spend your day. Whether at work, home or traveling, your spine needs proper support. There are plenty of ergonomic solutions available today that adequately support your body, alleviate spinal pressure and encourage better posture while seated.
With a stronger core, greater flexibility and a more ergonomic environment, you’ll gradually make improvements to your posture. Over time, practicing good posture will reduce pain and discomfort so you can feel better every day.
Posture Solutions at Relax The Back
Relax the Back offers a variety of posture correction products for home, work and travel. Though developing good posture is a habit that takes time, you can make it easier to correct your spinal alignment by using ergonomic wellness solutions from Relax The Back. Our spinal health products encourage better alignment no matter where you are.
Here are some of the top ergonomic back solutions for better posture and spine health:
Office Chairs for Ergonomic Workstations
If you experience neck and back pain at the end of a workday, it’s likely due to incorrect posture that strains your upper spine. The right chair can prevent slouching and hunching by promoting a neutral spine that allows you to maintain good posture.
Supportive chairs are ergonomic with adjustable options that allow the chair to conform to your body. Ergonomic office chairs from Relax The Back support your lumbar spine, back and arms to keep you in an upright posture without added pressure on your spine. Shop Relax The Back’s selection of office chairs to improve your posture and comfort at work.
Zero Gravity Recliners for Healthy Relaxation
You can maintain good posture even at home during relaxation time. The right recliner supports your spine in a healthy, neutral position by keeping your feet in line with your heart. This “zero gravity” position relieves spinal compression built up throughout the workday.
Zero gravity recliners from Relax The Back cradle your body in a safe and stable position. The comfort you feel from a zero gravity chair helps release tension and puts you into an even deeper state of relaxation. Browse all Relax The Back recliners to experience pain-free relaxation at home.
Back Cushions for Good Posture on the Go
Traveling in the car or on a plane for extended periods can be hard on your spine if you aren’t supported in an ergonomic and neutral posture. While seated, both your lumbar spine and your upper back need adequate support to prevent hunching and slouching. Supportive, ergonomic cushions can offer this support for people on the go.
Back cushions from Relax The Back support your spine while seated and keep your neck, shoulders, back and pelvis in proper alignment. Placing a lumbar pillow behind your back on long trips can prevent forward slouching that leads to low back pain and upper back and neck tension. View Relax The Back’s selection of ergonomic back supports that are perfect for travel or the office.
This National Correct Posture Month, bring greater awareness to your posture habits. Take proactive steps to strengthen your core, improve flexibility and support your spine at home, work or on the go. Choose Relax the Back for posture correction products that promote spine health and total body wellness.
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