If you’re like many people, you probably have memories of a parent, friend, or teacher telling you: “stop slouching!” Looking back, were these directives actually helpful for us, or is posture completely unrelated to health?
As it turns out, poor posture can lead to numerous detrimental health outcomes. In this article, we will review the top 3 health issues correlated with bad posture.
Danger #1: Decreased Balance
Poor posture can affect balance significantly and it can do so in multiple ways.
For one thing, maintaining a bad posture can lead to a shifted center of gravity. Specifically, if a person has forward head posture (FHP), he or she might have a higher likelihood of falling forward after slipping on an icy sidewalk or after encountering another, similar issue. This postural problem can throw our balance sensors off and can make it very difficult for the brain and spinal cord to keep us upright.
Furthermore, very poor posture may cause nerve impingements. As a result, the patient may have difficulty actually activating the parts of his or her central nervous system that are associated with balance. We’ll discuss this point further later in this article.
Danger #2: Increased Risk of Injury
Our bodies function best when everything is in alignment. This is not to say that someone with a congenital deformity or a serious injury will be forced to deal with pain and dysfunction forever. Rather, correcting posture as much as possible can help to reduce the risk of injury.
Take, for instance, someone with extreme thoracic kyphosis (a rounded upper back). This person’s muscles and joints are stretched and shortened to a significant degree. Therefore, when he or she attempts to lift something or perform certain movements, the muscles are at a disadvantage. As a result, injured and strained tissues are common in these individuals.
Danger #3: Impaired Nerve Function
As was hinted at earlier in this article, poor posture can lead to decreased nerve function. The spine and brain are our bodies’ central hubs for processing information, interpreting said information, and sending out signals in response to this information. The impulses that carry data about pain, joint position, pressure, and other items travel through a complex network of nerves. When these nerves are pinched or impeded by bad posture, the information is unable to arrive at its destination.
Unfortunately, this often leads to inappropriate nerve signals which can, in turn, lead to chronic pain, bowel dysfunction, and other issues.
Can a Bad Posture Be Corrected?
Having read all of the above information, you may be wondering:
- What is the Correct Posture?
- How Can I Perform a Posture Correction?
The correct posture can vary slightly from person to person. However, in general, good posture includes a slight lordotic (forward) curvature in the neck and low back, as well as a slight kyphotic (backward) curvature in the upper back.
When it comes to correcting a poor posture, there are many proposed theories. Some professionals will recommend corrective exercises and stretches. In many cases, this type of treatment can help. However, chiropractic care can also be an excellent treatment choice for those looking to improve their posture.
Chiropractors perform targeted spinal adjustments on patients with bad posture. In doing so, they help to guide the spine towards a better alignment.
Are you curious about whether or not chiropractic care is the right treatment option for you? Have you been noticing your posture worsening over the past few months or years? If so, stop in to see us at Keystone Chiropractic, your local go-to Plano, TX chiropractors. Book your appointment right now!
