Some people think they don’t have a choice in their body’s shape or structure, like somehow life and time can sneak in and steal their upright nature from them. That is not true. The problem is that just like many other decisions in life, you have to make the right choices. In the case of your posture, the options are pretty clear!
Let’s just look at a few health issues caused by poor posture.
High Blood Pressure. Science has proven that there is a direct connection between poor posture and high blood pressure. The “Fight or Flight” stress response mechanism in our biobehavioural DNA, creates poor posture in our bodies. Because it contracts the entire body into a position of fighting or flighting. The body crouches down into an explosive or protective position similar to the fetal position.
The digital age is disrupting our bodies ecosystem
The problem with the fast paced digital age where the worlds traumas are at our fingertips, is that our bodies are experiencing the Fight or Flight without a real and tangible threat in front of us. Now all of the hormones, sugars and fats are pumping through our systems preparing us to run or fight, but we are just sitting at our desks or in our cars. This disconnect of activity, pours all of that excess energy that is not burned off, straight into our fat cells.
This is the slow steady decline of our health and independence
Stress, anxiety and years of lifes trials and tribulations has created the feeling that the world is perched right on your shoulders. The head slowly slides forward and the shoulder round forward and the thoracic spine slowly rounds forward until you will be looking at the ground. It will take effort to even look straight into the horizon.
Choices are conscious thoughts making specific decisions
Poor posture is caused by many factors:
- lack of awareness of correct posture
- repetitive physical demands
- stress and anxiety
- use of technology
- tight muscles
- weak muscles
- dysfunctional joint mobility
- lack of fitness/activity
- sedentary lifestyle
- obesity
- aging process
- poor footwear (high heels, flip flops etc)
The good news is that you have a choice. Physical rehabilitation and professional training can be used to improve musculoskeletal imbalances. Regular visits to a chiropractor/osteopath keep your skeletal structure in alignment. A healthy diet and regular exercise, go a long way, but one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do, is proper stretching. As little as 5-15 minutes incorporated into your regular schedule can make all the difference in the world.
Your posture is your choice, what is your dance with life, time and gravity going to be?
HERE ARE THE TOP 5 TIPS TO HELP YOUR POSTURE AND HEALTH ON A DAILY BASIS.
Our Family Chiropractic Clinic, First Step Chiropractic, in Rowlett Texas focuses on improving health naturally through chiropractic adjustments, posture exercises, and health education
- Get Adjusted – In a one minute adjustment you can overcome months of bad posture in the spine. Notice after your adjustments how you can breathe easier and move better. The better your spine functions and moves the more pressure is off your nerves. Most people see a decrease in blood pressure after adjustments
- Set a timer during the day or set up a “pattern interrupt” like a sticker where you see it that reminds you to sit up straight.
- Change your environment. This might mean adding a back support to increase the lumbar curve. We love and sell the Back Vitalizers because they can also be used like a posture ball to sit on. Adding support goes for your commute, traveling, your desk and also your couch or recliner. Changing your posture environment might also mean raising your monitor or laptop screen. My favorite laptop tip is to put it on a two inch three ring binder. You can still type but it raises the screen significantly.
- Take a two minute breathing break. Most of us have learned to breathe in a stressed short breath. This means that the shoulders are pulled forward and you are using the neck and upper muscles of the chest. A great breath should have shoulders back. All the ribs, from the diaphragm up, should move up and out. You should breathe in slow, hold it for three seconds, and breathe out even slower through the mouth if you want to relax.
- Do your posture exercises at night. Before you go to bed roll up a towel so that is about two feet long and three inches wide. Lay this in your bed so it will go up and down your spine. Lay on it and breathe for ten minutes. You will thank me in the morning.
Stretching On Demand
Our On Demand Video Library has hundreds of stretches for every part of your body. There are 5, 10 and 15 minute stretches, full body routines, sport specific and injury focused stretches. Our Stretch Education section teaches you about your body and the benefits stretching has to fight stress and anxiety.