This week I want to talk to you about posture. Here in America, we have terrible posture. This is not an attack on anyone, but as a whole our societal habits generally mean that our posture is not conducive to a healthy back. This is for many different reasons including our chairs, the weight we carry around in backpacks as students, and weaker muscles. Here are some tips on how to consciously alter your posture to make it better.
- Sit Correctly. If possible, it is always better to have your feet flat on the floor or on a footrest if they do not reach. It is also important not to cross your legs at any point, be it the knee or the ankle. Do your best to keep a small gap between the back of your knees and the front of your chair. Do not sit with your knees above your hips, as this automatically pushes out your lower back. Relax your shoulders. Do your best to keep your forearms parallel to the ground if they need to be elevated. Also, don’t sit in the same position for too long. If possible, get up and walk around a little.
- Stand Properly. If you are standing, your weight should be evenly distributed with the majority of it on the balls of your feet. You should stand with your feet about shoulder width apart and make sure that your knees are slightly bent. You never want to lock your knees. Stand up straight, as if there was a metal rod in your back. Keep your shoulders back and your head level. Your earlobes should be in line with your shoulders. Tuck your stomach in and make sure that your arms are hanging naturally.
- Lying Down Properly. You should always sleep with a pillow to keep your head cradled. Also, avoid sleeping on your stomach too much. If you sleep on your back, keep a pillow under your knees. If you sleep on your side, keep one between your knees.
Correcting your posture may very well end up helping a great deal of the back pain that you live with from day to day. In addition to this, come into DiBella Chiropractic for added pain relief. You deserve to be able to live without being in constant pain!
