A Healthy Spine Promotes Healthy Posture

From strong leaders to popular group members, the individual’s confidence is notable due to how they carry themselves, demonstrating a strong demeanor. Aside from personality, one main factor commonly characterizes these individuals; is posture. In today’s society, the body language people display to others is a powerful source of communication. Posture can say more about an individual than words. An upright posture can be a subtle signal of self-assurance to everyone around you, but more importantly, good posture reveals health from within.

Posture is defined as the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting against the force of gravity. A proper posture exerts less stress and pressure from the spine without compressing or pinching the structures surrounding the spinal bones. When an individual practices good posture, the spine maintains proper health and wellness and avoids other complications.

The Health of the Spine & Posture

Good posture is a fundamental health component. The spine is the key to a strong and healthy posture. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, quoted, “Look first to the spine for the cause of all disease.” The spine, also known as the vertebral column or spinal column, consists of a series of bones referred to as the vertebrae, which are stacked one upon another. The main functions of the spine are to protect the spinal cord and provide support as well as stability to the structures of the body, allowing humans to stand upright, bend, and twist.

Strong bones, muscles, flexible ligaments, tendons, and sensitive nerves make up a healthy spine. But, when an individual does not practice proper posture, the natural structure of the spine can be greatly affected, leading to various spinal complications. According to various research studies, it’s been acknowledged that spinal health can influence overall health and wellness.

Unfortunately for many individuals, spine care is not generally considered until an injury or condition develops, causing impairing pain and discomfort to the individual. For example, we all know the importance of brushing our teeth daily. Proactively caring for our teeth is the best way to ensure we maintain good dental health, and we don’t wait till our teeth become sore before we start brushing them. Similar to your teeth, regular spinal care is vital to the health of your spine and body. Just because it isn’t visible like your teeth doesn’t mean it’s any less important.

Foremost, spine care begins with improving or maintaining posture. A proper posture involves training the body to stand, walk, sit, and lie so that the least amount of strain is placed on the spinal bones during movement or weight-bearing activities. Throughout your day, pay close attention to your posture. Sitting and standing upright, especially after working behind a computer or constantly up on your feet for an extended period, is the best practice for correcting posture.

Ultimately, avoid the habit of hunching over a computer or phone or slouching in front of the television. In addition, include a proper set of stretches and strengthening exercises into your weekly schedules, such as weight lifting, pilates, or swimming, to help strengthen the muscles and other tissues surrounding your spine as well as increase your flexibility.

Chiropractic Can Correct Posture

Chiropractic care is also efficient in improving the condition of your spine and correcting posture. When the spine is not properly supported, and the body’s weight is unevenly distributed, excess pressure is placed on the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and even the nerves around the spine, irritating these complex structures and leading to damage, injury, or conditions. Subluxations, or spinal misalignments, are one of the most common types of spinal complications resulting from improper posture.

In some cases, a spinal misalignment can lead to nerve compression and other complications such as sciatica, a series of symptoms described as radiating pain along the sciatic nerve which runs down one or both legs from the lower back. Through the use of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, a chiropractor can carefully re-align the spine, naturally restoring its proper functions. Getting adjusted regularly by a chiropractor is a great way to re-establish a better posture and overall health.

The body language we display to others is a powerful source of communication. Posture can say more about an individual than words. An upright posture can be a subtle signal of self-assurance to everyone around you, but more importantly, a proper posture reveals health from within. The spine is essential for the function of many systems in the body, and an improper posture may lead to complications.

Maintaining a proper posture is important to help reduce the stress and pressure commonly applied to the spine with everyday physical activities. When standing or sitting incorrectly for an extended period, the body can begin to change, often leading to various types of issues. Practicing good posture can help improve the well-being of the spine.

Additional Topics: Low Back Pain After Auto Injury

After being involved in an automobile accident, the sheer force of the impact can cause damage or injury to the body, primarily to the structures surrounding the spine. An auto collision can ultimately affect the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other tissues surrounding the spine, commonly the lumbar region of the spine, causing symptoms such as low back pain. Sciatica is a common set of symptoms after an automobile accident, which may require immediate medical attention to determine its source and follow through with treatment.