There are many benefits to practicing good posture. Not only does it decrease the amount of stress on your spine, but it also provides more room for your internal organs which helps them function correctly. If you don’t practice good posture, you may experience chronic back and neck pain, digestive issues, or have trouble breathing properly. To learn how to improve posture and break your slouching habit, consider these tips.
Avoid crossing your legs
If you’re used to crossing your legs, breaking the habit may be difficult. It is, however, essential to practicing proper posture. By crossing your legs, you risk shifting the alignment of your pelvis and lower back. Instead, you should aim to keep your feet flat on the ground and keep your thighs parallel to the floor while sitting.
Stand against a wall
A good way to practice having good posture is by standing straight against a wall. While standing against a wall or door, you should be able to touch it with the back of your head, shoulders, and butt. Doing so will give you a good idea of what optimal posture looks and feels like.
Don’t slack when sleeping
You can continue practicing good posture even when you’re sleeping. To promote proper spinal alignment, the ideal sleeping position is lying flat on your back. For extra support, you can place a small pillow beneath any area where there’s a space between your body and your mattress. These areas typically include under your knees, neck, and the small of your back.
Do core-strengthening exercises
Core-strengthening exercises will make it easier for you to carry your body correctly. These exercises will focus on the muscles in your torso, such as your abdominals, back muscles, and the muscles around your pelvis. Examples of core-strengthening exercises include planks, crunches, hollow body rocks, leg raises, and wall sits.
Get a supportive chair
Ironically, standing straight and tall may require investing in a good chair. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Across all civilian jobs in 2016, workers needed to spend an average of 61.0 percent of the workday standing or walking and 39.0 percent of the workday sitting.” If you also spend a large portion of your day deskbound, what you’re sitting on will have a big impact on your posture. As such, you should look for an ergonomically designed chair to support your entire back and is suited to your height and weight. If you don’t have the option to invest in an ergonomic chair, you can simply place a pillow behind the small of your back for extra support.
If you’re experiencing the negative impact of years of bad posture, consider paying a visit to Libertyville Wellness Group. Our experienced Libertyville chiropractors will provide spinal adjustments to help treat back and neck pain.
