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Why is Good Posture So Important?

Why is Good Posture So Important?

As chiropractors, we typically see people when they are in pain. One of our main goals is to help them relieve their pain. However, it is equally important for us to figure out what caused their pain in the first place so that we can prevent future injury down the road. Poor posture is one of the most common culprits when it comes to sprain/strain injuries, joint dysfunction, and even disc injuries.

If you look around you’ll notice that very few people have good posture. It’s common to see people sitting with their heads jutted forward, shoulders rounded, and spines slumped. Why do so many of us have such poor posture? Our bodies were not designed to be used the way we use them in modern society. We evolved to spend our days walking, running, climbing, lifting, and squatting. Instead, most of us spend large parts of the day sitting, whether that’s at a desk job, at school, commuting to work, or lounging on the couch. Because of this, our postural muscles tend to be overstretched and underused.

What does posture have to do with pain? Our bodies are like machines; they are designed to move in specific ways. When we sit, stand, sleep, and move around with poor posture, we are using our muscles and joints incorrectly. This causes excessive wear and tear on the joints and muscles, and it sets the stage for injuries and early degeneration. 

Many of us would like to improve our posture, but are unsure of how to do it. Even if we remember to sit up straight at our desks, inevitably we find ourselves slumped forward again within a few minutes. This is largely due to muscle imbalances that make it impossible to maintain a healthy posture. As chiropractors, we are experts in identifying the muscles that are not working correctly to hold the body in its proper posture. We can determine which muscles are weak or inhibited and which muscles are tight or overactive. Then we can give specific stretches and strengthening exercises in order to correct these muscle imbalances. We also find the joints that are not moving well and restore proper motion to these areas. By addressing joint dysfunction and muscle imbalance, we can make major improvements in posture. Contact our office to learn more about how chiropractic care can improve your posture.

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