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Our postural habits
begin in childhood ,and as we grow,
gravitational forces can take their
toll on our joints and skeletal alignment.
Maintaining proper posture while sitting,
standing and engaging in athletic activities
is important. |
Our posture has a major
impact not only on our appearance, but our
overall health as well.
People with poor posture are more likely to
suffer from back pain, neck pain, headaches
or other discomforts due to spinal misalignment,
muscle imbalance and poor circulation. In
fact, Hippocrates, the Father of modern Medicine,
said, "Look to the spine for the cause
of disease."
Our postural
habits begin in childhood ,and as we grow,
gravitational forces can take their toll on
our joints and skeletal alignment.
Maintaining proper posture while sitting,
standing and engaging in athletic activities
is important. As we age, the discs in our
spine begin to compress and dehydrate while
the curves in our back may become exaggerated,
such as a Dowager's hump (kyphosis) or swayback
(hyperlordosis). If we don't actively take
care of our spine and muscles we could, as
we grow older, progress towards a permanent
slouch.
| A number of factors
can contribute to poor posture. |
A number of factors
can contribute to poor posture.
Sitting or standing in one position all
day can lead to postural overload and chronic
shortening of specific muscles. Being overweight
will shift the forces in our spine and joints,
potentially leading to accelerated degeneration.
Poor footwear, such as wearing high heels
or shoes with flat arches, will alter your
low back biomechanics. Fatigue is another
factor which will contribute to weak and
tired muscles, leading to slouching.
These factors
can be dealt with, however. Exercise and
common sense will help. Strategies include:
1.
regular exercise, particularly walking,
swimming or aqua aerobics
2.
changing the angle of your chair or car
seat to help maintain a normal lumbar curve
3. avoid
activities which tend to cause prolonged
bending or hunching forward
4. avoid
sitting for more than 30 minutes without
taking a break. Get up, stretch or walk
around for a few moments
5.
lose that extra weight, particularly around
the middle. This will help reduce the pressure
on the vertebral discs
6.
reduce the risk of osteoporosis with a
diet that includes adequate amounts of
calcium and regular weight-bearing exercise
7. Finally, in order to maintain good posture,
we must be conscious of how we're standing,
sitting and moving about. The little bit
of effort we now use to stay balanced
will go a long way in keeping us upright
and healthy for years to come.
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