How Do You Know If You Have Bad Posture?
As you get older, you develop bad habits that result in muscle fatigue and tension. Slouching and sitting for too long can lead to bad posture. Back pain, neck pain, rounded shoulders, and even a potbelly are all indications of poor posture.
Symptoms of Bad Posture
There are many different symptoms of poor posture. Your shoulders develop a rounded look because of unnatural muscle tension. It is common in people who sit in front of a computer all day long. A potbelly is a result of not engaging your core muscles regularly due to a lack of good posture.
When you stand or walk, your knees may also bend unnaturally, or your feet might turn outwards. Your upper back can also develop a rounded appearance. These are all excellent indicators of having poor posture. Walking and moving this way contributes to back pain, muscle and body aches, and even headaches.
Your Body and Bad Posture
Your body is made up of two different types of muscle fibers called static or phasic. Static muscles are in your deeper layers, while phasic muscles are the ones you use every day to move. When you have poor posture, these muscles are the ones that feel it. Phasic muscles get burned out and end up hurting because they are not meant for muscle stress.
As your body demands use of the phasic muscles due to poor posture, your static muscles, the deeper ones, start to tighten from lack of use. As these muscles tighten, it can significantly impact your posture and make it worse. When your body experiences poor posture, the deep muscles continue to contract and leave you feeling tired and in pain.
Improve Your Posture
You can improve your posture and resolve the issues you might have if you act on them. If you spend all day leaning over your desk, take a few breaks and stretch your back with a backbend. Doing stretching exercises a few times a week can also encourage your muscles to be more flexible and less likely to suffer from poor posture.
If your neck is hurting, remember to stretch your neck regularly and do abdominal crunches regularly. Crunches force you to curl your ribcage and bring your torso closer to your pelvis. Doing so causes you to stretch and work the deeper muscles to find that much-needed relief.
Maintain Improvement to Your Posture
As much as most people enjoy sitting in a soft and squishy chair, you do not want to sit in one like that for long periods, like all day with your computer. Lumbar rolls or pillows can also help support your lower back when you are forced to sit for hours on end.
Ergonomic chairs, mattresses with good support, and the occasional chiropractic visit can make a world of difference in maintaining a good posture. Contact Mission Bay Chiropractic at 415-855-4300 to help you work on your posture when you visit our location in San Francisco, California.