Few people spend time thinking about their posture, especially when they’re tied to a desk all day or spending a leisurely evening lounging in front of the television. But more and more Americans are developing a wide range of health problems because of poor posture.
As an experienced chiropractor and sports medicine specialist, Gordon Payne, DC, understands the role posture plays in having a healthy body, a confident attitude, and a positive outlook in life. At ProForm Clinics in Flower Mound, Texas, Dr. Payne can help identify posture-related issues and develop a personalized approach to help you not only improve your posture but improve your entire life as well.
Your musculoskeletal system contains bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. This complex structure gives your body stability and allows you to move.
When you practice good posture, you should have:
If you’re standing, you should distribute your body weight equally between each foot.
When you have a poor posture, it throws off the delicate balance in your musculoskeletal system, putting additional stress on certain muscles and joints. Over time, this imbalance can trigger a wide range of health issues, including:
Other problems linked to a poor posture include urinary incontinence, constipation, heartburn, sluggish digestion, and cardiovascular disease. Poor posture can also cause sexual dysfunction in men and women because it can tighten and weaken the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles play a role in sexual arousal, stamina, and sensation.
Not all poor posture is because of bad habits. While behaviors, such as slouching in front of a computer or bending over your phone or tablet are often to blame, you can also develop poor posture because of inflexible or imbalanced muscles. Having inflexible muscles can reduce a joint’s ability to fully move in any direction. If you have imbalanced muscles in your back, side, or pelvis, your body can naturally slump, which can cause your body to tip forward instead of stay upright and aligned.
No matter what’s causing problems with your posture, Dr. Payne can work with you to bring your body back into balance. After performing a comprehensive physical exam, Dr. Payne might recommend a combination of approaches to correct your posture, including:
Dr. Payne might also recommend lifestyle changes that may better support good posture, such as sitting upright in chairs and moving every 30-60 minutes to avoid remaining in a fixed position for extended periods of time.
To see how improving your posture can improve your life, book an appointment online or over the phone with ProForm Clinics today.
