You’ve probably caught yourself doing it plenty of times: sitting with your shoulders slumped. It causes your neck to angle and your head to shift into a more forward position. Though you might try to self-correct, it seems only a few minutes go by before you’re slumping again.
The cause of bad posture is simple: lifestyle. Think about your job and daily tasks. If they are repetitive, it affects the muscles that are responsible for your posture. After a time, your body will simply get used to it, and you’ll adopt poor posture as your norm. On one side of the body are tight muscles that need to be stretched. On the other side are weak muscles that need to be strengthened. This lack of balance, or asymmetry, is something that can be corrected.
But knowing which muscles to stretch and which to strengthen are essential. That’s just one of the many things we teach our patients here at Community Chiropractic Center.
Test Yourself for the Ideal Posture
When you’re standing, you want to have your head straight, ears aligned with shoulders, shoulder aligned with hips, hips lined up with knees, and knees aligned with the outside part of your ankle.
If you want to test your posture, stand by a doorframe using the posture you normally have. As you take a step back toward the doorframe, notice which part of your body touches first. Ideally, your heels, buttocks, shoulder blade and head will all touch at the same time. Many people find, however, that their rounded shoulder blades don’t touch right away, or the mid-back hits the doorframe before the head.
The Strategies to Address Bad Posture
Every patient at Community Chiropractic Center gets an extremely thorough exam. That includes the use of our posture grid, which will show us exactly how aligned your posture is. It also tells us which X-rays might be necessary. From these X-rays, we can give you a realistic timeline of when you will start seeing results.
The adjustments you receive as a part of your care will get your body into the proper alignment. On top of that, Dr. Joel will go over strategies to help you hold and maintain your posture in daily life. This includes exercises, stretches, and ergonomic changes.
Your posture didn’t get like it is overnight. We’ll work with you, taking the time to make sure that you get the results you hope for!
Make Some Simple Daily Shifts in Your Routines
People drive in cars just about every day. When you get in your car next time, make sure you’re sitting straight in your seat. Then, look out your rearview mirror. If, like most, it isn’t perfectly centered, it’s a sign that you revert to improper posture when you drive.
It’s also important to consider your computer or workstation setup. Your monitor should be at eye level and your knees at a 90-degree angle. Your chair should allow you to sit properly without slouching.