Do you have a history of neck pain, shoulder pain or lower back pain without any rhyme or reason for it occurring? It could be because of some injury you had sometime in your past but if you are like most of us, then you may be experiencing chronic back pain due to a misalignment of your spine anatomy due to a lifetime of bad posture habits.
Posture, Really?
Back pain, in and of itself is most often a symptom of another underlying problem. It could simply mean that your spine is out of alignment due to bad posture, or it could be something worse, like a herniated disc or scoliosis. No matter what, you need to get it checked by a doctor or chiropractor before it becomes far more serious. However, you would be surprised just how much back pain can be alleviated simply by developing good posture habits.
• Good posture means always standing as straight as possible, with both feet spaced evenly apart. Your shoulders should be back, not hunched even the slightest bit forward. Your head and neck should be elevated, with your chin elevated as least four inches above your collarbone.
• Good posture means sitting with your behind tucked back against the edge of the seat, not in the middle. The small of your back should be supported by the lumbar support of the seat back, and curved as little as possible. Again, your shoulders should be back, not hunched forward and your head and neck up. Your feet should be planted firmly on the floor, and evenly spaced apart.
How to Improve Posture
This used to be something we all practiced in elementary school but over the years, the practice has pretty much died out. There are several simple exercises that you can do to improve your overall stance, and take some of the pressure off of your lower back and spine. The first one, done while sitting on the floor, is a simple one. Sit with your back against the wall, with your legs straight out in front of you. Slowly roll a medium-sized ball from your lap to your feet, without moving either leg, or bouncing yourself to reach the end. Move as slowly as possible. The purpose of this is to slowly decompress your spine, strengthen your back muscles and improve your flexibility. Do this for about five minutes or 10 repetitions.
Another simple exercise to improve your posture is a classic one. Find a large book that can easily be balanced on your head. Stand with your back flat against the wall, and reach up with both hands to place the book on top of your head. With your arms down by your sides, slowly pace across the room, keeping the book as evenly balanced as possible. You will notice, as you do this, that if you slouch your shoulders forward or let your chin dip down, the book will slide off. Practice these things every day, and you will see improvement in both your stance, and your pain.
Want to learn more about how your posture can affect your health? The dedicated professionals at the Chiropractor Center of Lakeland care about you and want you to be in the best shape possible. Call them for an assessment today. Also check out our new page on Posture.
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