Chiropractic Care Can Change Your Posture From Clarke Kent to Superman
It’s not always easy, or for some people even possible, to maintain good posture. This is because our bodies adapt to our day to day life and environments. As the structure of the body changes it often results in the commonly seen forward slouching, internally rotated shoulders and compressed rib cage due to the nature of most people’s jobs – sitting in front of the computers for avery prolonged periods of time. Ideally the chest should be out, shoulders back, head high and chin tucked in.
Manual therapists such as doctor of chiropractic can make a massive difference to your body’s structure and function. We work on the mechanical aspects of the body aiming to find and treat restriction and dysfunction. Once the structure of the body improves and returns to a balanced and neutral state, maintaining good posture will come easily and naturally.
You shouldn’t be constantly having to try and force yourself to sit up straight or stand properly. The body is designed to be that way naturally but many of us have unknowingly retrained it to adopt unhealthy postural habits which then become the norm.
Did you know your posture affects the way that you as well as others view and think of you? Good posture signals confidence, health and strength. Other people subconsciously pick up on these subtle signals and behave accordingly. Poor posture increases the likelihood of developing stress related conditions such as anxiety as it can affect the release of the stress hormone cortisol.
How can I find the cause of my Bad Posture?
There are a few simple tests you can do which will help you find out what the cause of your bad posture is.
1. Stand in front of a mirror and put yourself into a ‘good’ posture position, which will most likely feel very strange. You might even feel a bit self-conscious standing in this new position, but if you are able to achieve this ‘good’ posture, you don’t have a problem with joint or spinal flexibility. It is therefore likely to be habitual.
2. Now hold this posture for as long as possible. You might start to feel certain parts of you starting to ache. That is most likely due to muscle fatigue as a result of poor endurance of your postural muscles.
3. If you are unable to adopt the ‘correct’ posture, it is a sign that you lack the mobility to do it, either because of joint restriction, pain or muscle and ligament shortening.
4. If you feel less pain holding good posture, it is a fairly obvious sign that your bad posture is a direct cause of the pain, or at least part of the cause.
So how can I improve my posture?
If you look at the 4 points above, whichever category you fall into, the direct recommendation for you would be.
If point 1 and 2 are true for you, then you will improve by holding that ‘good’ posture more often until you are able to do it all day or by doing specific postural exercises to strengthen you muscles. A chiropractor can help you with this.
If you fall into category 3, you need help. It would suggest you might need chiropractic treatment to help you, combined with an exercise programme. Contact a chiropractor and have a proper evaluation and have the underlying problem dealt with.
If you fall into category 4, you should try to adopt your ‘good’ posture immediately and continue. If you feel unable to do it for any length of time, you might need chiropractic treatment to help you.
If you want to improve your posture, self confidence and the impression your body makes on others call 5104812225 or email me to book an appointment now.
