improve posture Archives - Upper Cervical Center of Brandon

The Answer To Your Heath Problem May Be In Your Posture

2022-06-23T19:53:26+00:00

You may not realize it but your posture can affect the overall health of your body. Standing, sitting, or even lifting incorrectly can impact your posture and your health. You may initially notice back or neck pain followed my muscle stiffness and fatigue after spending too long sitting in a hunched position or standing all day.

When you have bad posture, you are forcing one part of your body to work harder to compensate for the twist or bend in your spine. Over time, the muscles not being properly worked can become atrophied. Poor posture can cause your overall health to dwindle as well.

Think of your spine as a garden hose and the water flowing through it is the communication between your central nervous system and your body. When a hose is free of kinks, the water flows freely and without interruption, but if the hose becomes kinked or pinched, the water slows or stops altogether. The same happens when you have poor posture. If your spine is not sitting correctly in its natural curve, it will act as a kinked hose; interrupting the signals between your body and central nervous system.

Your spine protects your spinal cord which is a key component in your central nervous system, which is in charge of your body’s immune system among other functions. If your body is unable to properly send signals to your central nervous system, it will not receive the care that it needs to fight of disease.

Poor posture is linked to chronic pain, deeper depressions, digestive issues, increased risk for diabetes, decreased circulation, increased risk for cardiovascular disease, weight issues, increased stress, headaches/migraines, reduced lung function, and becoming susceptible to other diseases or illnesses.

Posture can also affect you outside of your health including in the work place by affecting your workplace productivity, advancement, and career success.

So, remember that whether you are sitting or standing to keep your back straight, shoulders back and chin up. If you have been sitting for a long period of time, take a break and move around. This will not only allow you to stretch your muscles and correct your posture but to also improve your circulation and lung function that is affected by long periods of sitting crouched over.

If you are having a hard time maintaining correct posture, this could be from the muscle stiffness and fatigue from too long spent in a poor positioning. Visiting an upper cervical chiropractor can help you to get your body back on the right track.

3 Ways Your Posture Is Affecting Your Success

2022-06-23T19:30:55+00:00

Many American workers spend a large portion of their day sitting, usually slumped in front of a computer. Others spend their work hours standing or walking constantly and there are those who perform manual labor that requires them to lift, bend, twist, or carry something heavy. Whatever the worktime assignment, your back and spine takes the brunt of the abuse, affecting your regular posture. A poor posture can actually affect your mood, health, productivity, and even success.

Research shows that the majority of Americans spend only 36% of their day in good posture – that’s 64% of their day spent slouching. Women, surprisingly, have worse posture habits than men, by 20%.

Proper posture requires your head to be held up, your shoulders back and should reduce the strain on your muscles to support the rest of your body. When you maintain a proper posture, especially at particular times, you can be more successful. Here’s how:

Good Posture Increases Your Productivity

One of the leading reasons for decreased productivity is worker absence. When a company does not have the proper staff, they are not able to achieve workplace goals. Besides missing work for a cold, the second biggest reason for seeing a doctor is back pain. In fact, back pain is the number one listed reason for disability claims for individuals under 45.

Poor posture is linked to increased back and neck pain. When you sit or stand at work or at home with the proper posture, not only do you reduce the risk of having to miss work for a doctor visit, you will also see other health improvements that will increase your workplace productivity. Having a good posture can actually improve your mood, increase your energy levels, and help you to focus.

Good Posture Boosts Your Confidence

Keeping a “power pose”, which is with your head held high and your shoulders pulled back, for at least 30 minutes will trigger your body to release certain chemicals in the brain. Testosterone, a hormone linked to increased confidence and power, is released along with cortisol, a hormone that reduces stress levels.

Good Posture Reflects Authority

Increased confidence can reflect greater authority but maintaining good posture to reflect your power and success goes beyond just chemicals. Good posture is a form of body language that tells others that you are in charge, or someone that can be looked to for leadership.

Consider the animal kingdom, many animals poise themselves to appear larger than they really are to scare off predators and maintain control of their pack. Humans can mimic this behavior and utilize it in the workplace to guarantee their success by exuding confidence, power, and leadership skills to those around them, higher level employees in particular.