You might not be concerned about your posture until you are experiencing back, neck or shoulder pain or a family or friend points out that you have bad posture.
Maintaining good posture is important because you avoid getting neck, back and shoulder pain, and you avoid having a misaligned spine, having your joints be affected or developing food digestion problems and breathing difficulty. Good posture also makes you feel fresh and not constantly tired. Here are some tips to help you maintain good posture.
Dynamic and Static Postures
There are two categories of postures; a dynamic posture, which is how you position your body when walking, bending or running (your posture during movement), and static posture, which is how you position your body when sleeping, sitting or standing.
It takes practise to get good posture. Since most of the time you are seated, try to get a chair that has a backrest so that you make sure you are always resting your back on it at a ninety-degree angle, not slanting. Your shoulders should be relaxed with your elbows close to your body.
As for your legs, try as much as possible not to cross them because you may end up changing your posture. Let your feet be flat on the floor; if you cannot reach the floor, get a footrest.
When standing, putting most of your weight on the ball part of your feet helps you attain good posture. Keep your head level and try and keep your shoulders back. This should help you stand straight and tall.
How to Tell Whether You Have Bad Posture
Do you constantly feel tired when seated, especially around your upper back, neck and shoulders? There can be some discomfort and pain at times. Do you hear your friends and family tell you to sit up straight constantly? When seated at a desk, do you feel like you are hunching or leaning forward? These are signs that you have bad posture.
What Happens if Your Posture Is Misaligned?
If you look like you are slightly hunched or the right or left side looks lower than the other, you might have caused this from not sitting or standing well. You might need to visit a doctor for a posture analysis, and they might refer you to a chiropractor for alignment. Sometimes you might notice a change immediately, but other times you might need frequent visits to help align your body completely. You may also be advised on the best ways to keep your body aligned.
