Tips to Help Improve Your Posture

Blog

Having good posture will not only save you from future back issues and pain, it can also make you feel better, more confident and help your body function as it should. You may not even know that you have poor posture. It can be as simple as a slight hunch in your shoulders, or maybe you walk with your body leaned back a bit. Either way, these are both poor posture habits and should be corrected. See below for some helpful tips on how to help improve your posture.

Standing Posture

• Keep your shoulders back and aligned with your hips. Do not slump or slouch.
• Use your core muscles to keep your stomach in. This will help keep your body in alignment and allow you to stand up straighter.
• Wear supportive shoes, especially if you will be standing for long periods of time. Add a shoe insert for shoes that do not already have support.
• When standing for long periods, be sure to shift your weight by moving around when you can, so you aren't standing in the same spot. This can be hard on your knees and back.

Sitting Posture

• Keep your head straight. Try to avoid tilting your head to one side or the other, or tilted up or down. This can be hard on your neck and upper shoulder muscles.
• Do not slouch while sitting, be sure to keep your shoulders back, but kept relaxed.
• Your feet should be kept flat on the floor. Crossing your legs can cause poor circulation while sitting and can also be hard on your hips, knees, and back.
• Use a chair that is supportive and comfortable. Be sure the height of your chair allows your hips to sit higher than your knees to help with circulation.

Walking Posture

• Walk with your chin up and in line with the ground. You don't want to look down, as this will hunch your shoulders.
• Hold your core muscles in and keep your stomach and hips square when walking. You want everything to be in line.
• Be sure your chest is up and not slumping towards the ground. It should be pointing straight out. If it's angled down, you most likely have an arch in your back.

Improving your posture can be done with these simple tips, but if you are carrying a little bit of extra weight, this can also be causing your poor posture. Losing some weight by exercising and dieting will also help to improve your posture. Correct posture will help to relieve back pain, will make you feel better and you'll look better. Contact your local chiropractor, such as Reinecke Chiropractor, for other tips to help improve your posture.

Share

22 May 2015