Were you always told to ‘sit up straight’ or ‘stop slouching’ when you were growing up? Unfortunately, it’s just too easy as adults to fall into bad habits and forget the importance of good posture.
Standing or sitting with poor posture for prolonged periods of time places additional stress on your lower back – a common cause of back pain. Not only that, but you may find yourself suffering from tension headaches, breathing less deeply – and looking less fit! Whether it’s physical or mental health, posture plays an important role in our overall well-being.
What Is Good Posture?
The back has three natural curves: at the neck, mid back and lower back. Ideally, we need to maintain these curves by ensuring your head is above your shoulders and the top of the shoulders is over the hips. It can sometimes feel uncomfortable or awkward to adjust your posture because bad posture tends to be habitual and doesn’t always cause pain or discomfort. So for a while you may need to check your posture consciously until you get into good habits. Once it feels right, you’ll notice when you start slumping.
How To Check Your Posture
Posture refers to how your head, shoulders and hips are aligned in relation to each other. Poor posture occurs when the spine is not positioned in a neutral alignment. This could mean the curves in the spine are more exaggerated than they should be, for example, by hunching over with your head forward. This is a common cause of ‘tech neck’, which results from stooping over mobile phones or computers. Poor posture results in the joints, muscles and vertebrae being in stressful positions and, over a prolonged period, can have several negative impacts on your body.
Tips For Good Posture
- Sitting
The feet should rest flat on the floor, with even weight on both hips, and your back should be mostly straight.
The shoulders should be back and relaxed, whilst the ears line up over the collarbones. - Standing
The legs should have a slight bend in the knee so they are not hyperextended or locked, and weight should be evenly distributed.
The shoulders should be down, and the spine and pelvis remain in a neutral position.
There are many physical benefits associated with good posture, such as reduced back pain, but let’s not forget that standing taller and looking more toned can be a great boost to your self-confidence. A confident pose is believed to automatically improve your self esteem by a process of ‘postural feedback’.
Don’t forget to book in for a check up with our experts here at Sundial. We’re always happy to see you.