ADVERTISING: Advertorial — What difference posture makes!

We are told “stand up straight” or “sit up” from an early age. Often, it felt like nagging. However, posture really is so much more important than even our parents or grandparents may have realized.

“Good posture supports good health. Proper body alignment can help prevent excess strain on your joints, muscles and spine — alleviating pain and reducing the likelihood of injury. As a bonus, correct posture can boost your productivity and mood, as well as help you use your muscles more efficiently.”

Of course, a chiropractor will tell the importance of good posture. But funny enough, this quote came from the Mayo Clinic. It all boils down to basic biology. Regardless of your position, standing, sitting, lying down, maintaining proper posture will reduce strain on muscles and ligaments.

The Cleveland Clinic offers these benefits of good posture:

• Keeps bones and joints in the correct position (alignment) so that muscles are being used properly.

• Helps cut down on the wear and tear of joint surfaces (such as the knee) to help prevent the onset of arthritis.

• Decreases the strain on the ligaments in the spine.

• Prevents the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions.

• Prevents fatigue because muscles are being used more efficiently, which allows the body to use less energy.

• Prevents backache and muscular pain.

According to Harvard Health, there’s even more!

“Good posture is important to balance: by standing up straight, you center your weight over your feet. This also helps you maintain correct form while exercising, which results in fewer injuries and greater gains. And working on balance can even strengthen your abilities in tennis, golf, running, dancing, skiing — and just about any other sport or activity.”

So what could happens if you have poor posture? Here are a few problems that can be caused by bad posture from the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress:

1) It can cause headaches. Leaning forward with your head down and your neck slumped will strain your back and neck muscles.

2) It can make you tired. Slouching forward puts pressure on your lungs, so you aren’t able to breathe as deeply.

3) It can make your gastric reflux worse. You place pressure on your stomach and organs when you are leaning forward.

4) It causes back pain. The strain poor posture puts your spine causes your spine to put in an improper alignment, causing neck and back pain

5) It increases your risk of cardiovascular disease. Poor posture can cause blood vessel constriction leading to heart issues.

6) It can create nerves to be pinched. Pinched nerves hurt! Chiropractic adjustments can help.

7) It can increase knee pain. The misalignment of the spine that occurs from poor posture puts increased pressure on your joints, especially your knees. If you have arthritis of the knee, it will gradually get worse over time.

8) It can make ruin your mood. A 2014 Health Psychology report found that people who sat upright reported higher self-esteem, alertness, better mood and felt less fear. Sit up straight, and you’ll feel a little better.

9) It can wreck your bite. Poor spinal alignment can misalign your jaw joints, causing TMJ problems.

The good news is that much of this can be helped! So what is the first step?

If your posture needs some help, your chiropractor can assist you in straightening up your posture. This may include spinal adjustments, treatment modalities, specific stretches, targeted exercises, and changes to your workstation.

• • •

Dr. Wayne M. Fichter Jr. is a chiropractor at Natural Spine Solutions. The business is located at 3913 Schreiber Way in Coeur d’Alene. For more information, please contact us at 208-966-4425.