Happy “Check Your Posture” month! At Active Health & Wellness Center, we believe spinal alignment is essential to overall health and function. Most people first notice poor posture in a photograph. Even if you don’t know how to measure poor posture, you definitely know it when you see it!
What can cause poor posture?
Poor posture is caused by staying in one position or similar positions for too long. Think of that person you know that sits at a desk all day. Do you know a teenager that is consistently looking down at their phone? These sustained positions make it easy for muscles and ligaments to tighten abnormally and even shorten over time.
What are the side effects of poor posture?
Did you know there are several health-related side effects directly related to poor posture? In addition to rounded shoulders and forward head posture, other health issues can include impaired lung function, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and fatigue.
When a chiropractor initially examines a patient, poor posture becomes a “check engine light” that there may be bigger issues at hand. Poor posture can give your doctor insight to certain “structural shifts” that could be affecting spinal alignment and, in turn, overall health and function.
Structural shifts are deviations away from what is considered normal alignment. Some structural shifts can include straight neck, curvature (scoliosis) of the spine, or pelvic tilting. The negative side-effects normally associated with these structural shifts can include muscle spasms, headaches, or even tingling in arms or legs. If these structural shifts are left unnoticed and uncorrected, they can lead to long-term diseases such as Degenerative Disc Disease, Degenerative Joint Disease, nerve impingement, arthritis or bone spurs.
What can I do about my poor posture?
There are actually many things that can be done about poor posture through corrective stretches and exercises.
When a patient chooses Active Health & Wellness for their chiropractic and physical therapy needs, a postural assessment is commonly done to determine the need for postural training. Postural training becomes a vital part of the ongoing care plan.
At Active Health & Wellness Center, we want to address any issues that poor posture may introduce, both short-term and long-term. Our doctors and staff have taken exceptional measures to ensure poor posture is assessed and remediated. Come see us at Active Health & Wellness Center- where we’ll get you feeling better and teach you how to stay that way!
If you would like to learn more about improving your posture, please contact Active Health and Wellness Center or call (574) 259-9355