Back Pain - Why Your Posture is Very Important
Your posture is very important when it comes to the health of your back.
If your posture is wrong it can put unnecessary pressure on your spine and back.
Today we spend a lot of time sitting down whether it is at work or at home.
Even the way you stand or lie down on your bed can have an influence on the health of your back.
Therefore, it is important to understand your posture when you are sitting, standing and lying down.
Each person has unique characteristics and your posture in the way you stand is unique to you.
The posture that you were born with supports your body effectively in a natural way.
This means that it is aligned and balanced resulting in body movements that are efficient without any pressure or strain on the spine or neck.
The first thing to do is to examine your current standing posture to determine what it is like and if it needs to be improved in any way.
An easy and convenient way to do this is to use a full length mirror in your bedroom or living room.
If you have two standing full length mirrors you can angle them together to reflect different views of your posture.
Using two mirrors will also help you avoid having to strain your neck to the side to see your posture.
When the mirrors are positioned stand with your back against the wall.
When you have your back against the wall try not to slump but, pull your shoulders back.
What you want to do is hold a position that is an overstated version of your normal standing position.
The reason for this is to be able to determine if your current posture is causing any problems.
If you find that your stomach is pushing forward then, push it inwards.
When you are ready ask yourself the following questions: Are my knees bent? In an ideal position your knees should be straight but not locked fully.
Do I have rounded shoulders? The best position for shoulders is to have them pushed backwards so that they are aligned with your body.
Slumped shoulders bring on the appearance that your shoulders are rounded.
How does my lower back, pelvis and mid-section look like? What you are looking for is that your pelvic area is level with your lower back area.
Check your lower back as it should have a slight curve.
Your abdomen should be tucked inwards Does my head and neck bend away from my shoulders? The ideal position is having your head level and centered above your upper torso.
In terms of your neck ideally it should be upright but having a minor curve.
If your posture is wrong it can put unnecessary pressure on your spine and back.
Today we spend a lot of time sitting down whether it is at work or at home.
Even the way you stand or lie down on your bed can have an influence on the health of your back.
Therefore, it is important to understand your posture when you are sitting, standing and lying down.
Each person has unique characteristics and your posture in the way you stand is unique to you.
The posture that you were born with supports your body effectively in a natural way.
This means that it is aligned and balanced resulting in body movements that are efficient without any pressure or strain on the spine or neck.
The first thing to do is to examine your current standing posture to determine what it is like and if it needs to be improved in any way.
An easy and convenient way to do this is to use a full length mirror in your bedroom or living room.
If you have two standing full length mirrors you can angle them together to reflect different views of your posture.
Using two mirrors will also help you avoid having to strain your neck to the side to see your posture.
When the mirrors are positioned stand with your back against the wall.
When you have your back against the wall try not to slump but, pull your shoulders back.
What you want to do is hold a position that is an overstated version of your normal standing position.
The reason for this is to be able to determine if your current posture is causing any problems.
If you find that your stomach is pushing forward then, push it inwards.
When you are ready ask yourself the following questions: Are my knees bent? In an ideal position your knees should be straight but not locked fully.
Do I have rounded shoulders? The best position for shoulders is to have them pushed backwards so that they are aligned with your body.
Slumped shoulders bring on the appearance that your shoulders are rounded.
How does my lower back, pelvis and mid-section look like? What you are looking for is that your pelvic area is level with your lower back area.
Check your lower back as it should have a slight curve.
Your abdomen should be tucked inwards Does my head and neck bend away from my shoulders? The ideal position is having your head level and centered above your upper torso.
In terms of your neck ideally it should be upright but having a minor curve.
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