Posture Chiropractor

Did your parents always remind you to “sit up straight!” or “don’t slouch!” when you were a kid? Those reminders would help you fix your posture so that you look taller and more confident. Having good posture also has many health benefits, too! Whether you are sitting at your desk or walking around the neighborhood, the way you carry yourself can have a major impact on your overall health and well-being. If you have developed some bad habits over the years with your posture, then a chiropractor can help. You can visit a posture chiropractor to help fix your posture for when you are standing, sitting, and lying down. Chiropractors help with posture using natural and non-invasive techniques that produce lasting results. When you go to the chiropractor for posture, they can help correct the root of your bad posture so you can start sitting and standing up straight without needing regular reminders. Here’s everything you need to know about chiropractic posture correction:

Posture and The Spine

Good posture is about more than just its effects on your appearance! In fact, when you engage in proper posture, you are helping support the proper alignment of your spine. The spinal column runs from the base of your skull to your lower back. A series of joints known as vertebrae are stacked one on top of the other to make up your spine. Inside the spinal column runs your central nervous system, which connects your brain to nerves that communicate with the rest of your body. Your spine needs to be in proper alignment for your nervous system to function at its best. The nervous system uses nerves to send signals throughout the body that do things like tell your hand when to wave and your stomach when to digest food. When you are standing up straight, your spine will have three natural curves to it: at the base of your neck, between your shoulder blades, and at your lower back. Good posture while standing, sitting, and lying down help your spine and nervous system function properly.

The Importance of Good Posture

In addition to making you look taller and more confident, practicing good posture will also provide you with less visible but important health benefits. Here are 5 benefits of proper spine alignment.

Support bones and joints

Good posture is about more than just properly straightening your neck and back. Good posture supports the proper alignment of your bones and joints throughout the whole body. When you engage in good posture, it allows other bones and joints in the body to function properly. Proper spinal alignment helps your body distribute weight evenly so that you don’t put too much strain on certain bones or joints, like your hips or knees. Your supportive bones and joints also experience less wear and tear when you practice good posture.

Support muscles and soft tissues

The muscles and soft tissues like ligaments, tendons, and spinal discs, also benefit from good posture. Your muscles and soft tissues help connect and stabilize bones and joints inside the body. If something is out of alignment, it can put additional pressure and strain on those supportive tissues. When you put a lot of stress on your body, it can cause muscles and soft tissues to stretch and strain, leaving them unable to do their jobs effectively. Engaging in good posture throughout your day keeps your muscles and soft tissues from tiring out and becoming weak.

Boost energy and mood

You may be surprised to learn that practicing good posture has a direct impact on your energy levels and mood! When you engage in proper posture, this can help boost your mood. The mind and body connection means your moods can impact your body and vice versa. That means when you are in a good mood, you may be more likely so sit up straight. But if you are feeling blue, you might slouch or slump forward. The next time you start to feel tired or down, try sitting up straight and notice the gentle boost to your mood and energy levels.

Reduce back and neck pain

Millions of people visit the doctor for neck and back pain each year. Many are surprised to find out that the culprit of their back or neck pain is actually poor posture! When you sit hunched forward or slouch for long periods of time, it can stretch and strain your muscles and put additional pressure on your spine. However, if you practice proper posture, then you can reduce your chances of dealing with back and neck pain. Your bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues are designed to function at their best when you engage in proper posture.

Improve healthy functioning

From healthy blood circulation to digestion, proper posture can help improve healthy functioning throughout the body. Your brain sends signals to the rest of the body through the nervous system that’s housed inside the spinal column. Good posture keeps the spine straight and allows these messages to get sent, telling your body when it’s time to digest your dinner or go to the bathroom. Proper posture can also impact your health because when you sit up straight, your lungs have enough room to expand and allow you to inhale oxygen-rich air. Then your heart can pump oxygen-rich blood effectively throughout your body.

Signs of Poor Posture

You might not realize you are engaging in poor posture until you start experiencing negative health effects like pain and muscle tension. Here are 5 signs you may have poor posture.

Forward head

The spine in your neck, known as the cervical spine, does have a slight forward curve. However, when your head is too far forward, it can put pressure and strain on your neck. Posture with a forward head is common among people who spend time looking down at keyboards, mobile phones, or tablets. This type of poor posture even has its own nickname: tech neck. Over time, forward head posture can lead to a slight bulge on the back of your neck. It can also cause your neck muscles to weaken, making it more difficult to hold your head upright in a proper posture.

Rounded shoulders

When you slouch, it can cause your shoulders to dip down and roll forward. Rounded shoulders are common among office workers who spend a lot of time slouched or hunched over a keyboard or desk. This can lead to the muscles in and around your shoulders becoming tightened and shortened. It can also lead to tight pectoral muscles. When these muscles tighten and shorten, they can start to weaken over time. This can also put a strain on your back, causing those muscles to stretch and lengthen to accommodate the rounded shoulders.

Hunched back

The combination of a forward head carriage and rounded shoulders can lead to a hunched back, also known as kyphosis. A hunched back is more common in children and teens, though it can occur at any stage of life. The largest part of the spine, known as the thoracic spine, includes larger vertebrae that support the upper and middle back. A hunched back can develop due to chronic poor posture, where the upper back appears to have a hump from leaning or hunching too far forward.

Tilted pelvis

When you sit for long periods of time, whether at work or due to a sedentary lifestyle, you risk developing a tilted pelvis. This refers to when your hip flexors become tight, causing the pelvis to rotate forward. A tilted pelvis can result in an exaggerated curvature at the base of your spine, sometimes called a sway-back. Sitting for a long time can strain the hip flexors that run from your lower back through the front of your hips. Strengthening the hips, glutes, and core muscles can help provide better pelvic support when you sit. Taking regular breaks to stand and stretch your legs also relieves tension in your hips and pelvis.

Back and neck pain

Back and neck pain are commonly associated with poor posture and for good reason! The muscles, ligaments, and tendons that support your spine in your neck and back function at their best when you engage in proper posture. If you have a bad habit of poor posture, it can put stress and strain on these muscles, causing them to tighten, tense, and weaken. This causes pain in your neck and back that can be resolved by strengthening and re-engaging in proper posture. Your joints can also become stiff and lose their range of motion when they experience too much pressure and strain from poor posture, leading to pain and discomfort.

Chiropractors Help with Posture

A chiropractor can help you identify the best form of proper posture for you and your body, also known as the neutral spine. Your neutral spine is the best form of posture where your vertebrae are properly aligned, your muscles are engaged, and your spine maintains healthy and natural curves. When you go to a chiropractor to fix posture, they can help reduce your pain and improve overall healthy functioning in your body with safe and effective techniques. Here’s what to expect when you visit a posture corrector chiropractor.

Examine Your Posture

First, your chiropractor will want to talk to you about your typical day, habits, and routines. This will help them learn more about you and your posture habits. They will then examine your posture with a visual and physical examination to identify any areas where you may be experiencing poor posture. Identifying these areas will also help them determine what effects or impacts poor posture might have on your health and well-being. This can also help your chiropractor determine their next steps for how to fix it.

Make Chiropractic Adjustments

When you think of chiropractic adjustments, you might expect cracking or popping sounds. However, a chiropractic adjustment doesn’t have to make a sound in order for it to be effective. Chiropractic adjustments are gentle and safe treatment techniques to get your body in the best position for good posture. Chiropractic adjustments help realign vertebrae in the spine so they can better support your healthy functioning. A chiropractor can also use chiropractic adjustments to other joints in the body, like your shoulders and hips. Proper alignment in these joints can also help support a healthy spine.

Soft Tissue Manipulation

Chiropractors do more than just work with your spine and joints. They also perform therapeutic techniques to support your muscles, tendons, and ligaments, known as soft tissue manipulation. Chiropractors understand that working with soft tissues is just as important in helping you maintain a good posture. You need strong, flexible muscles to support your neck and back in a neutral spine. Soft tissue manipulation can include therapeutic massage, stretches, and exercises to correct any imbalances and promote strength and healing.

Stretching and Rehabilitation

Your posture can also be impacted by a recent injury. Chiropractors can provide you with a treatment plan to help you recover and rehabilitate after an injury. Some injuries reduce your mobility, which can lead to weakened muscles over time. A chiropractor will work with you on stretching and rehabilitation techniques to support your recovery and improve your overall strength and range of motion. These techniques can help provide your muscles with tension relief so that they can grow stronger and help support a better, healthier posture.

Learning about how your posture impacts you can help improve your overall physical and mental health. Good posture is more than just how you carry yourself. It can help with the healthy functioning of your nervous system, your organs, and your blood flow, and it even helps reduce the signs of aging. But fixing your posture on your own isn’t always easy. That’s why we have a team of posture chiropractors here to help you. Visit AICA Orthopedics in Marietta to work with a Marietta chiropractor on how to improve your posture and experience the benefits to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being!