Maintaining good posture is a daily struggle for many of us. Whether you’re working on your feet or at a desk, it’s all too easy to slump into bad habits.
You probably know that sitting and standing poorly is bad for your back, but do you know about the trouble it could be causing for the rest of your body?
Below, we look at some of the most common side-effects of bad posture – some of which might even surprise you.
Pain
This may be the most obvious consequence of bad posture, but sometimes it can be difficult to connect the dots and realise just how much of our pain could be fixed by keeping ourselves a little more vertical.
The joints in our hips, knees and ankles are all connected to your spine, which means that the damage done by incorrect posture can spread much further than your upper back. Slouching – particularly when walking – puts a strain on your lower body, and over time this can cause persistent pain and discomfort.
It’s not good news for your upper body, either. Allowing your head to droop in front of your shoulders can lead to recurrent headaches and jaw pain as a direct result of tension in your neck and shoulders.
Have you considered postural assessment? If you’re keen to make lasting and positive changes to your posture, a chiropractor in Guildford offers a four-step assessment and treatment for your unique spinal and muscular health.
Digestive problems
Around 40% of people in the UK are suffering from a digestive issue at any given time, and in recent years there has been an alarming rise in the number of people suffering from IBS and similar disorders.
Bad posture can cause a number of issues with digestion, since the organs responsible for passing food through our bodies are compressed. This can lead to a sluggish metabolism, causing heartburn, acid reflux, and constipation.
Improve your mood
Body language is a powerful tool, and there’s research to suggest that sitting straighter can give our mood a much needed lift, and make you feel more on-the-ball and confident at work. While bad posture probably isn’t solely responsible for your negative moods, there’s a strong chance that it could be exacerbating the problem.
Pins and needles
Tingling in your hands can be a sign that the nerves and blood vessels around your shoulders are being constricted. Sitting poorly, with your head and shoulders hunched forward, may be causing or exacerbating this problem, and it is recommended that sufferers take immediate steps to improve the way they are sitting and standing.
Fatigue
Although sitting down may seem like the energy-saving option, you may have noticed that it can make you feel as though you’re ready to fall asleep.
This is because bad posture puts unnecessary tension and strain on your body, which forces you to use more energy than you would if you were sitting properly.
What’s more, the pain caused by bad posture can make it difficult to sleep comfortably, which may prevent you from getting enough rest each night – another good reason to look into ways of achieving and maintaining good posture.