Poor posture affects a large portion of the population and causes a host of different physical ailments. Even though it's up to us and we have total control over whether we maintain good posture or not, most of us slouch, slump, hunch, or lean. Poor posture can end up causing a lot of pain and discomfort — but it can also be improved by a chiropractor.
Why is it so difficult to maintain good posture?
Maintaining good posture is challenging. It's much easier to let your shoulders hunch forward and your pelvis slouch back than to keep your shoulders back and the natural curve in your lower spine intact. Some people have structural causes of poor posture that are no fault of their own, but most have what's known as positional causes. These include:
- Bad postural habits resulting from general laziness
- Excessive weight
- General weakness in the midsection
- Muscle imbalance or spasm
- Pain in areas of the body that prevents proper posture
- Self-esteem issues that cause you to slouch
- Degenerative conditions that prevent correct posture
- Over-reliance on support from a non-ergonomic chair
Consequences of poor posture
One of the main consequences of consistent poor posture is pain. Your body craves balance, and when you regularly place undue stress on your pelvis, back, neck, knees, shoulders, and hips, you become out of balance. Over time, you may develop chronic pain conditions you attribute to getting older or some other condition — when in truth they come from years of poor posture.
Get an expert analysis
Chiropractic doctors have the ability to analyze your posture to determine what's at the root of the problem. Some things your chiropractor will look for include:
- Height variance across your shoulders
- A forward tilt in the pelvis
- Alignment in your knees
- Stance variations like turning one or both feet outward
- Changes in your normal gait
- An increase in your spinal curvature
Once the underlying causes are determined, a chiropractor can create a treatment program and help you correct the problem. Along with spinal adjustments, you may be given instruction on how to sit, stand, walk, and work properly as it relates to posture.
Your chiropractic treatment will help — but it's only half the battle. You'll also need to be more conscious of your posture in your daily activities and correct the bad habits you've created over the years. It's a challenging task, but one you can master with regular practice.
Contact our chiropractic team at Family Tree Chiropractic today for help.