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It’s easy to picture a cartoon soldier with a hunched back, a jutting chest, and swaying shoulders when you imagine someone with good posture. But proper posture should be more subtle and unobtrusive than that; it’s something we should all be able to accomplish without thinking (though this is seldom the case). The good news is that you can actively work to improve your posture. Better body positioning is associated with reduced stress, tiredness, and strain on muscles, ligaments, and tendons, so it’s crucial to know how to improve it. Some tips are provided below.
Fix Your Working Environment
Organizing your workspace is the first order of business. Make sure you spend most of your time sitting in a comfortable chair that provides enough back support. Keeping your back straight with a little curvature and your shoulders back might be aided by a cushion. Also, make sure your knees aren’t higher than your waist and your feet are level on the floor.
Make sure you’re not squinting or straining to view your screen by adjusting its height or tilt. This, however, rules out doing any kind of laptop work that requires a constant gaze down at the screen. Invest in a separate display, input device, and mouse/keyboard; you will be very grateful you did. Make sure your keyboard and mouse are at elbow height as well, so you’re not straining your arms as you work.
Visit Chiropractor
Chiropractic care has been shown to be very effective. According to the staff at Finesse Chiropractic Tamworth, being adjusted by a chiropractor may help with things like joint discomfort and muscle stiffness. Body postural imbalances are readily apparent to chiropractors. Such as when a person has a hunchback or bowed shoulders or when one shoulder is higher than the other. The chiropractor will first ask you some questions to get an idea of your posture and lifestyle before beginning the examination of your back. If you have a bad posture, the impacts it may be having and the first steps toward correcting it may all be determined at this stage. The next step involves gentle joint motions targeted at your shoulders to help you achieve the ideal position for a healthy posture. With any joint pain, these motions can help enhance range of motion, relax surrounding muscles, and ease you into a healthy posture.
Move More Often
The human body wasn’t designed for prolonged periods of sitting. You may lessen the discomfort by reminding yourself to stretch or walk for a few minutes every half an hour. Because movement increases blood flow, oxygen and nutrients are delivered to tired muscles, and waste products that contribute to aches are flushed out. This may increase flexibility and muscle strength in areas that aid in correcting poor posture. Focus on building up your core strength, especially your transverse abdominis, which acts as a vital stabilizer for your hips and spine. The muscles that hold you upright are located in the space between your shoulder blades, and resistance band workouts are great for strengthening and stabilizing those muscles.
Choose the Right Pillow
A bad pillow might contribute to slouching and neck discomfort. Sleeping on one’s stomach may aid in body alignment, so those who like this position may discover they don’t require a pillow. Pillows should be used by those who sleep on their backs or sides to fill the gap between their shoulders and neck (sleeping on your side might put pressure on your shoulders and neck because of your weight). People who like to sleep on their sides often need the thickest pillows. High-loft, down-feather pillows that mold to the body are among the best for your posture, no matter how you sleep.
Practice Breathing
Forcing your shoulders back isn’t the solution to poor posture. It’s not about using force, but rather about guiding your spine into its optimal configuration. The natural position of your head is squarely above your heart, with your ribcage supporting the weight of your skull. Paying attention to your breathing is a simple way to improve your posture: Proper spinal alignment is necessary for deep breathing, as is the coordinated movement of the rib cage and the breathing muscles. Imagine drawing air in through your nose, feeling it fill your stomach, and then feeling it rise up into your chest as you exhale.
There is a strong correlation between how we feel and how our bodies are positioned and aligned. Our ability to participate in the activities we like, whether they involve physical exertion like playing a sport or more passive pursuits like reading or knitting, will suffer if we spend most of our waking hours in uncomfortable positions. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to and implement the aforementioned strategies immediately.
