How Poor Posture Can Affect You
Much of our pain and discomfort throughout the day can actually be traced back to poor posture. When we hunch or slouch, the nerves that run through and along the spine can become compressed, negatively impacting their functioning and ability to get messages safely from the brain to the rest of the body. Here’s how poor posture may be affecting you:
Back Pain
One of the most common complaints doctors hear about is back pain. This is also the most common side effect of living with poor posture. When our spine isn’t properly aligned, it puts pressure and strain on supportive soft tissues like the muscles and tendons in your neck and back. When you slouch, it puts additional pressure on your shoulder blades and causes you to round out your back.
Neck Pain
Neck pain is also a common side effect of poor posture. When you lean forward or look down at a keyboard all day, it puts a lot of pressure on the vertebrae in your neck. It can also cause your neck muscles to become weaker as they stretch to accommodate this poor posture. When your muscles are weakened, it can make maintaining a healthy posture more difficult.
Headaches
If you struggle with frequent or chronic headaches, then poor posture may be to blame. When your neck muscles are strained due to poor neck posture, it can cause you to experience tension headaches. Misalignments in your spine can also disrupt healthy nerve functioning and lead to painful headaches.
Disrupted Sleep
Even your sleep can become disrupted by poor posture. Certain sleep positions can actually cause you more pain and discomfort. If you tend to sleep on your side, then you might experience lower back pain from the way you twist your lower body as you sleep. You might also deal with insomnia or difficulty sleeping due to pain and discomfort caused by poor posture throughout your day.
Digestive Issues
You might be surprised to learn that digestive issues can also be caused by poor posture. Constant slouching can cause you to round out your back and compress your stomach muscles. When you curl inward, it can put a lot of pressure on your internal organs in your stomach. Poor posture can also cause weakened ab muscles that support your stomach. Compressing your digestive organs can lead to slower digesting and other stomach issues.
Spine Issues
You may also develop issues with your spine due to poor posture. Spine issues like a herniated disc, bulging disc, and other misalignments with the spine can be caused by not using proper posture throughout your day.
Chiropractic Posture Correction
Better posture = better health! There are ways you can practice proper posture throughout your day to help improve your posture. Visit a chiropractor for posture to learn what it feels like when your spine is properly aligned. Your chiropractor will physically examine your spine across your neck and back to identify any misalignments caused by poor posture. Promoting healthy posture in your spine is also about helping your neck and back muscles to better support your spine. Your chiropractor can help your body to move and function better. Chiropractic adjustments combined with other techniques like massage, ultrasound, and physical therapy can help you get and stay active in ways that benefit your whole body.
Visit a chiropractor in Atlanta with AICA Orthopedics and get quality, personalized chiropractic care.
