The Effects of Good Posture on Spinal Health

Hello again dear friends
from Dr. Henry and
his staff here at Austin Texas’ TexStar Chiroporactic.  Let’s
talk posture!

We often hear that good
posture is essential for good health. Good posture affects your overall
wellbeing, specifically when it pertains to neck and spine health. We recognize
poor posture when we see it in the form of unnatural body positions formed as a
result of bad habits carried out over years. Chiropractors in general have a
real grasp of the importance and necessity of good posture.

What is posture? Posture is the position in which we hold our
bodies while standing, sitting, or lying down. Good posture is the correct alignment of body parts supported by the
right amount of muscle tension against gravity. Without posture and
the muscles that control it, we would simply fall to the ground.

Normally, we do not
consciously maintain normal posture. Instead, certain muscles do it for us, and
we don’t even have to think about it. Several muscle groups, including the
hamstrings and large back muscles, are critically important in maintaining good
posture. While the ligaments help to hold the skeleton together, these postural
muscles, when functioning properly, prevent the forces of gravity from pushing
us over forward. Postural muscles also maintain our posture and balance during
movement.

Consequences of poor
posture: Poor posture can
lead to excessive strain on our postural muscles and may even cause them
to relax, when held in certain positions for long periods of time. For example,
you can typically see this in people who bend forward at the waist for a
prolonged time in the workplace. Their postural muscles are more prone to
injury and back pain.

Can I correct my poor
posture? In a word, yes.
Remember, however, that long-standing postural problems will typically take
longer to address than short-lived ones, as often the joints have adapted to
your long-standing poor posture. Conscious awareness of your own posture and
knowing what posture is correct will help you consciously correct yourself. With
practice, the correct posture for standing, sitting, and lying down will
gradually replace your old posture. In turn, this will help you move toward a
better and healthier body position.

How can Dr. Henry help?  Those of
you with long-standing postural problems will likely require the help of a
chiropractor to assist both the body and the brain to correct themselves.  Dr. Henry can assist you with proper
posture, including recommending exercises to strengthen your core postural
muscles. With the use of
certain chiropractic techniques, Dr. Henry can also assist you with choosing
proper postures during your activities, helping reduce your risk of
injury. Call us to
learn about how TexStar
Chiropractic can help you correct bad posture and the
associated painful ills that you suffer as a result!