As seen at
www.beautyconnexion.com
Who doesn’t! What’s the catch, you say? No catch this
time – it’s all about posture. Maintaining proper posture can (and will) make
you look thinner! It will also make your entire body feel better and is a major
aspect of my patient treatment plans.
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: poor
posture can lead to excessive strain on our postural muscles and may even cause
them to “give up” when held in certain positions for long periods of time (do
you sit or stand ALL day!?). When this occurs, you are more prone to injury and
back pain! There are a number of factors that can contribute to poor posture. These
include: stress, obesity, pregnancy, weak postural muscles, abnormally tight
muscles, foot pronation (your ankles roll inward – runners: this is very common
for you!), and high-heeled shoes (remember my last article?). On top of all of
this, if you have decreased flexibility, a poor work environment, improper
posture while at work, and unhealthy sitting and standing habits, the chances
are, you have bad posture.
Good posture is the correct alignment of body parts
supported by the right amount of muscle tension against gravity. Without
posture (and those muscles that control it), we would just fall to the ground!
These postural muscles also work to maintain our balance during movement. It’s
not just about looking thinner – improving your posture is associated with
increased overall energy, better breathing patterns, improved blood flow and
circulation, and improved health status!
Most people start the day with good posture, but, as
the hours tick by, our muscles fatigue and we begin to slump and slouch. A
simple scan at home can help you determine if your posture needs a make-over.
When standing, your head, shoulders and hips should line up, one above the
other. Start by looking at yourself from the side – you should be able to hang
a string that lines up with the back edge of your ear, the tip of your
shoulder, the hip trochanter (the body, hard bump that you can feel at the side
of your hip), and just in front of your ankle bone. Now, look at yourself from
the back (or have someone look for you!) – you should not notice any rotation
or tilt of the head, your shoulders should be at the
same level and not curled forward. Your hips should also be level and your feet
should point outward slightly. See the following diagram for a better idea of
what to look for:
I can hear you now: “Dr. G, can I correct my poor
posture?”
YES – but remember, long-standing postural problems
will take time to address as your joints and muscles have adapted to your
preferences of the past! Conscious awareness of your body and muscular re-training
will help you to correct your posture. This is a very common area of
rehabilitation training that I provide with over 85% of my chiropractic
patients - often, poor posture can be the culprit for MANY back and neck pain
problems!
Your body is the only one you will ever get, so take
care of it! Transformation is a present activity – begin correcting your
postural imbalances today and reap the benefits of a healthier, more confident
YOU!
