Good Posture

Let’s face it, “good posture” is something we all strive for, but it’s hard when routine activities throughout everyday life can put a strain on our posture. Things such as stress caused by working from home, fatigued muscles, the hours spent sitting slouched over gaming with the squad, and even our shoes, impact our body’s ability to achieve and maintain good posture. In fact, they actively work against this goal.
To maintain good posture, you need more than some gimmicky device sold in stores. You need to have balance, muscle flexibility and strength, and normal joint motion throughout the body, particularly the spine. This means you not only need to be aware of general health, nutritional and exercise considerations, you also be able to recognize and take action to correct postural and movement habits at work, home, and while on-the-go.
What is good posture and why is it important?
Good posture is more than just standing tall and looking your best, it’s an important part of your overall health and well-being. Posture is simply the body's position and alignment while at rest or in motion. In fact, did you know that there are actually two types of posture? Dynamic and static posture (mind blown, right?).
Dynamic posture is simply our whole body’s posture while moving. It’s how we walk, run, lift, and bend. Static posture on the other hand is our body’s posture while at rest. It’s how we sit, stand, and lay.
Achieving and maintaining good dynamic and static posture is important because poor posture can have a direct negative impact on our bodies, both physically and mentally. Although back pain is the most commonly associated with poor posture, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Poor posture can also cause or compound:
Back pain and neck pain
Headaches and migraines
Arthritis
Digestion problems
Respiratory issues
Poor circulation
Like bad posture, good posture can also directly impact our quality of life, but for the better. Some of the many benefits of good posture include:
Reduced risk of back and neck pain
Better balance and coordination
Higher energy levels
Reduced stress and anxiety
Optimism and positivity
 

A healthy spine is critical to good posture.
One of the key components to good posture is the position of your spine and the body’s ability to function optimally. As we get older, bad habits such as slouching and inactivity cause muscle fatigue and tension that ultimately lead to poor posture. And, while back problems are what most people associate with poor posture, those issues are just the tip of the iceberg. Perhaps you have one shoulder higher than the other or a tilted pelvis – over time, these imbalances can have a serious impact on the body’s central nervous system. That’s where chiropractic comes in. Chiropractors can help improve posture by adjusting the spine, strengthening the supporting muscles and soft tissue in the neck and upper back, and educating people on ways to maintain proper posture.
Posture can affect all areas of health; your susceptibility to injury, breathing, digestion, even nutrition to your brain. "Posture can affect all areas of health; your susceptibility to injury, breathing, digestion, even nutrition to your brain,” says Dr. Kevin Lees, manager of auditing and quality at The Joint Chiropractic. “Chiropractors specifically treat the spine, which not only may improve spinal symptoms, but also quality of life.”
Chiropractors deliver a gentle, non-invasive, non-addictive therapy, known as a chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic adjustments reduce joint restrictions or misalignments in the spine and other joints in the body, which in turn help to correct postural imbalance, reduce inflammation, and improve function of both the affected joint and nervous system. By correcting these postural imbalances, while at the same time encouraging your body to work more optimally, you and your body are able to better support good posture.