Posture Correction: A Guide to Good Posture

Posture refers to the position and alignment of your body while sitting, standing, or lying down. Good Posture involves appropriately aligning the spine, joints, and muscles, allowing optimal function and balance. On the other hand, lousy Posture occurs when there is an imbalance in your spine, often resulting from habits such as slouching at the desk, hunching over devices, or sitting for extended periods. There are two types of Posture;

Dynamic Posture describes your Posture in motion, such as exercising or bending down.  

Static Posture: Is your Posture while sedentary, including sleeping, standing, and sitting.

Bad Posture can have a significant impact on your health. It puts unnecessary stress on your muscles, joints, and ligaments, leading to chronic pain, discomfort, and increased risk of injury. Discomfort in the head and neck area is often a result of poor posture. Addressing and correcting poor Posture involves a combination of awareness and exercise, but it is worth it in the long run. This guide will discuss the benefits of practicing good Posture habits and the best way to correct slouching and habitual poor posture.

Benefits of Healthy Posture habits

There are a variety of benefits that come with correcting your posture, and the top reasons include the following;

1. Chronic pain: Using correct posture helps alleviate pain and discomfort caused by muscle imbalances and strain on the body, especially in the neck area.
2. Digestion: Good posture promotes proper spine alignment, allowing for better nerve communication and optimal functioning of the body’s systems. This can positively impact digestion, circulation, and even mental clarity.
3. Lung and Breathing function: Correcting your posture opens your chest, allowing your lungs to expand and take in optimal oxygen intake fully.
4. Improve spine health: With good posture, you can reduce the risk of spinal issues such as misalignment, degenerative disc disease, and injury.
5. Prevent Joint deterioration: When you have good posture, your weight is evenly distributed across your body, relieving stress on your joints and minimizing the risk of arthritis.
6. Headache reduction: Having good posture allows for proper blood flow, reducing tension, which can help alleviate headache pain.

What is Good Posture?

Good Posture While Standing Up

There are a few things you can do to help actively maintain good posture while standing up;

• Head alignment: your head should be directly over the shoulders, with your chin parallel to the floor.
• Shoulder alignment: To avoid slouching, your shoulders should remain back and relaxed, opening up your chest slightly to the sky.
• Neutral spine: there are three natural ways in which your spine curves; The neck, upper back, and lower back should all curve slightly inward.
• Hip placement: Your hips should feel level and square.
• Engaged core: Engaging your core muscles lightly helps straighten your back and maintain stability.
• Foot positioning: Your feet should sit aligned with your hips and remain parallel.

Remaining conscious of the above items will help you maintain good posture while standing and evenly distribute your body weight across your joints and muscles, relieving excess stress. It takes practice, but over time will become a habit.

Good Posture While Sitting Down

Maintaining good posture while sitting is also essential for your well-being. Things to watch out for when sitting down include;

• Spine alignment: when you sit, try to lengthen your back straight against the backrest. Try to avoid bringing your shoulders forward into a slouch.
• Head and neck alignment: your head should be aligned with your spine, with your chin parallel to the floor.
• Shoulder and arm alignment: try to keep your shoulders as neutral as possible and relax, avoiding hunching them over. Your elbows should be at a 90-degree angle.
• Hip alignment: Your hips should push back against the chair’s backrest, with only a slight arch in your lower back which occurs naturally.
• Leg alignment: Try to keep your legs parallel and your knees at a 90-degree angle. A footrest may be necessary.
• Feet placement: Your feet should be flat on the floor, with your body weight evenly distributed across the floor.

If you actively try to keep these tips in mind, you can reduce the risk of strain, especially on your back and neck and improve your overall musculoskeletal health.

Exercises that Help Alleviate Pain from Bad Posture

Wall Angel

This exercise helps strengthen the upper back and shoulder muscles, promoting better posture.

1. Stand with your back against a wall, feet shoulder-width apart, and arms relaxed at your sides.
2. Slowly raise your arms to shoulder height, Bend your elbows to 90 degrees, and press them against the wall.
3. Slide your arms upward, keeping them in contact with the wall until fully extended overhead.

Hold this position for a few seconds, then slide your arms back down to the starting position. Repeat this movement ten times.

Bird Dog

The Bird Dog exercise targets the core muscles, lower back, and glutes, which are crucial for maintaining good posture.

1.  Start on all fours with your hands directly under your shoulders and your knees under your hips.
2. Extend your right arm forward while extending your left leg backward, keeping a neutral spine.
3. Hold this position for a few seconds, then return to the starting position.
4. Repeat on the opposite side, extending your left arm and right leg—alternate sides ten times each.

Chin Tucks

Chin tucks help correct forward head posture, a common issue associated with poor posture.

1. Sit or stand with your back straight and shoulders relaxed.
2. Gently move your lower head/jaw, pushing it straight back without tilting your head up or down. You should feel a slight stretch in the back of your neck.
3. Hold this position for a few seconds, then release it. Repeat the exercise ten times.

Posture Analysis: Home Office Workstation Ergonomic Assessments for Improved Posture

Posture analysis evaluates and assesses an individual’s body alignment and positioning while standing, sitting, or moving. It involves observing the alignment of various body parts and using these observations to identify postural issues. Healthcare professionals, such as physical therapists or postural experts, can identify postural imbalances or misalignments by conducting a thorough posture analysis. These imbalances can include rounded shoulders, forward head posture, excessive curvature of the spine, or pelvic tilt.

Physiotherapy treatment can alleviate pain and discomfort caused from poor posture. A physiotherapist will be able to pinpoint the source of the pain and the potential postural causes.

Posture analysis is a valuable tool for treatment planning and monitoring progress. It provides a baseline assessment to guide the development of personalized treatment programs, including exercises, stretches, ergonomic modifications, and lifestyle changes. Periodic reassessment of posture allows for objective evaluation of the effectiveness of interventions and adjustments to the treatment plan as needed.

By recognizing and addressing postural issues through targeted interventions, individuals can improve their posture, reduce pain, prevent further complications, and enhance their overall physical health and functionality.

If you are interested in having a proper posture assessment, we can gladly help. Here at HealthX, we offer Ergonomic assessments to help you reach your goals. Contact us today by filling out a contact form here or by calling us at 604-332-4487.