Why is posture so important?

Posture is as important as eating a healthy diet, sleeping 7-9 hours a day, avoiding harmful substances like drugs, alcohol and tobacco.  Healthy posture means that your bones, joints, ligaments are working the way that they should.  It also means that there is no pulling or tugging on the nerves that send signals to regulate your organs.  If messages are being sent correctly, your body can function properly.  Healthy posture contributes to normal function of your nervous system. 

What is the nervous system?

Your nervous system is your body’s messaging center. It begins with your brain and sends messages down the spinal cord to control movements, cognitive function and automatic responses to the world around you. It also controls all systems in the body; Digestion, heart function, breathing, sleeping, Everything our body does is controlled by the nervous system.  Diseases, stress, accidents, toxins can impede your nervous system and cause symptoms.  

This is why when posture is bad, your health and function are compromised.  Long term effects may effect your digestion, breathing, muscles, joints and ligaments.  It can also effect your bodies ability to release toxins in your body.  This is because it also works with your blood flow and lymphatic system.  The better your posture, the less stress and strain on your body and systems.  

How does bad posture happen?

Poor posture develops as a result of an accident, fall or bad habits. Slouching, sleeping in stressful positions, looking down for long periods of time all train the ligaments, bones and muscles to stay in unhealthy positions.  

Good news is that it means that you have control of whether or not you have bad posture and can avoid getting symptoms. In most cases, poor posture results from a combination of several factors, which can include:

1. Accidents, injuries and falls 

2. Poor sleep support (mattress)

3. Excessive weight 

4. Visual or emotional difficulties 

5. Feet issues or improper shoes 

6. Weak v. strong muscles (muscle imbalance) 

7. Careless sitting, standing, sleeping habits 

8. Negative self image 

9. Occupational stress (emotional and physical):
- A poorly designed work space, deadlines, co-workers, commuting. 

Poor Posture can lead to pain.  A lifetime of poor posture can start a progression of symptoms in the average adult. 

Here are signs or signals that you have unhealthy posture:

1. Fatigue: 

Your muscles have to work hard just to hold you up if you have poor posture. You waste energy just moving, leaving you without the extra energy you need to feel good. 

2. Tight, achy muscles in the neck, back, arms and legs:

By this stage, there may be a change in your muscles and ligaments and you may have a stiff, tight painful feeling. More than 80% of the neck and back problems are the result of tight, achy muscles brought on by years of bad posture. 

3. Joint stiffness and pain:

At risk for "wear and tear" arthritis, or what is termed degenerative osteoarthritis. Poor posture and limited mobility increase the likelihood of this condition in later years.

4. Rounded Shoulders:

If you are slouching, your shoulders will roll forward and shorten muscles in front of your body and stretch muscles on the back of your body and spine.

5. Head that leans forward or backward:

In most cases, the head is forward and down.  This pulls on the spinal cord, muscles, ligaments, tendons.  Stress to these areas will send signals to the brain that something is wrong. This will trigger the sympathetic nervous system to kick in and disturb sleep and digestion.  

Common symptoms of poor posture:

• Headaches
• Neck pain
• Arthritis
• Muscle strain
• Muscle spasms
• Nerve issues
• Disc injuries
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• TMJ
• Fibromyalgia
• Fatigue
• Numbness or tingling in hands/legs
• Low back pain. 
• Bowel Issues
• Difficulty sleeping
  
  Keeping your back healthy leads to general all around great health.  The more you work on posture the better you will feel. This is why all exercise programs focus on keeping your back and head in proper position. Chiropractors are experts at helping the spine function properly.  Dr. Amie Gregory, DC, CCEP, ANF has been helping patients keep healthy posture and stay healthy.  
  
  Contact us at our San Francisco, CA or San Carlos Chiropractic office today! You will feel the difference when leaving.  
  
  References:
  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21202-nervous-system