Fix Your Posture, Enjoy These 4 Benefits

You like what you do for a living. Your job is certainly fulfilling, but sitting at a desk all day every day can take a toll on you after a while. Looking at and working with a screen can lead to slouched or crooked posture, which then causes several problems. Even if you get and use a stand-up desk, you can still struggle with maintaining good posture and keeping your body in optimal health. In this blog post, you’ll learn how you can fix your posture and what the benefits of your efforts can be.

What is proper posture?

When you’re sitting, your feet should be flat on the floor, and your weight should be even distributed between your hips. Your shoulders should be back but still relaxed, and your ears should align with your collarbones. In standing position, your knees should be slightly bent. It takes considerable strength to hold good posture for prolonged periods of time, which is why you should get up from your desk and move around about every 30 minutes.

How can you fix your posture?

In addition to frequent movement throughout the day, there are some exercises that can help you gain more strength and make maintaining your posture easier. You can do bridges, neck stretches, core exercises and more to build up the muscles in your lower back and abdomen, which are the main muscles responsible for your back posture.

What are the benefits of good posture?

Keeping your body in healthy alignment throughout the day has many benefits for your overall well-being, including the following:

Increased Energy

When you use the muscles as they were intended, with the joints in the right alignment, they don’t have to work as hard as they do when things aren’t aligned properly. As a result, you experience less fatigue and have more energy throughout the day.

Reduced Headaches and Pain

Tension in the back of the neck can cause you to have frequent headaches, and a slouched position puts pressure on your lower back and spine. By correcting your posture, you can decrease these painful symptoms, but it will likely take consistent, long-term efforts to see a noticeable improvement.

Stronger Core and Lower Back

The abdomen and the lower back muscles are closely connected, and by strengthening one, you also strengthen the other. Simple core exercises can be very helpful for improving your posture.

Improved Lung Capacity, Circulation, and Digestion

Slouching limits the space that your lungs have to expand and your digestive system from processing comfortably. Also, sitting with your legs crossed constricts blood circulation to your organs. By keeping your back mostly straight and your feet flat, you open up more area for your lungs to take in air and allow your body to continue to function as it is supposed to.

If you take the time and effort to correct your posture, you can enjoy a higher quality of life and better overall health. With your body in appropriate alignment, you can keep doing the job you love for many years to come! For additional tips, exercises, or stretches to improve your posture, contact your chiropractor.

About Dr. Chad Wills

Dr. Chad Wills has been practicing in the Naples area since 2000. Every year, he continues to receive advanced training in various chiropractic issues, including correcting spinal abnormalities, scoliosis treatment, and scoliodracina. If you have questions about how to maintain good posture, you can contact Dr. Wills by calling Wills Chiropractic at (239) 331-6060 or by clicking here.