Why Posture is So Important

You heard it from your mother when you were a kid and now you’re hearing it from your chiropractor — no slouching! Proper posture is just one of those things that’s so important that you’re never too old to be reminded. It’s essential to your overall health and wellness. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Good Posture is Essential

Aside from making you look (and even feel) better, good posture has many benefits including:

• Reduced stress on the body: Proper posture reduces stress on the ligaments that support joints and hold them together
• Improved spinal health: Proper posture helps prevent the spine from “getting stuck” or fixed in abnormal positions throughout your day
• Reduced wear and tear: Everyday wear and tear can have a negative impact on your joints, causing arthritis later in life in your ankles, knees, hips, and back and proper posture can help
• Maintained alignment: It’s important that the spine is in proper alignment and without restriction or dysfunction as this helps improve communication between the nervous system and the rest of the body
• Better breathing: When you maintain proper posture, the lungs can fill more efficiently which allows more oxygen to be supplied to the body to help you feel more energized

How Poor Posture Impacts Your Health

There are several ways that poor posture can negatively impact your health, and it doesn’t stop at your spine. Over time, poor posture alters the natural curve of the spine which can cause pain in the long term and discomfort in the short term.

Keep in mind that your skeletal system supports your entire body and a slanted or slouched posture can compress the ribs along with your spine. This means the lungs aren’t able to fully expand and can lead to a lack of oxygen, which impacts every single organ in your body...down to a cellular level!

In the neck, tension from poor posture can radiate to the head, causing headaches. It can also radiate down to the shoulders and arms and cause discomfort or tingling in the arms and hands.

No matter what age you are, it’s important to practice proper posture and it’s never too late to learn. For more tips on practicing proper posture, click here. The chiropractors at your local Brooklyn chiropractor can also help return your spine to proper alignment so you can maintain great posture. To request an appointment at Williamsburg Chiropractic, just click here.