Being told to stand up straight is probably one of the most frequent phrases that you would hear when you were in your teenage years. All those nagging might sound annoying, but the truth is having good posture will not only make you look good, but it also supports good health/
Proper body alignment can help in preventing excess strain on your muscle, spine, and joints. This, in turn, will help in alleviating pain and decreasing the likelihood of injury.
Developing a proper posture takes conscious effort. It might take time too. However, the feel-good results are worth it.
If You Want to See What Proper Posture Look Like, You Have to do the “Wall Test” to Find Out:
- Stand straight so that the back of your head, shoulder blades and buttocks are touching the wall. Your heels should be 2 – 4 inches away from the wall.
- Then, insert a flat hand behind your back. You should be able to barely slide your hand in between the wall and your lower back to achieve the proper lower back curve.
- In case there’s still too much space behind your back, push your belly button towards your spine. This will help flatten the curve on your back and gently bring it closer to the wall.
- You can also arch your back so that your hand can slide behind you if there is too little space behind your lower back.
- Then, walk away from the wall and place the posture corrector. Then, return to the wall to assess whether you kept the proper position when you placed the posture corrector.
Unfortunately, most people do not maintain proper posture. When this happens, it contributes to a number of health problems such as the following:
Back and Neck Pain
Pain, tightness, or stiffness in the back and neck can be caused by injury, and other health conditions such as herniated disks, arthritis, and osteoporosis. Poor posture is one of the most common causes of these health conditions. However, these health problems can be alleviated by maintaining proper posture. This can be done with the help of posture correctors that train your muscles to get used to its natural curvature.
Shoulder Pain and Impingement.
Muscle tightness, weakness, or imbalance linked with bad posture can cause the tendons in your rotator cuff to become irritated. This can then cause pain and weakness. These tendons can also become pinched when you maintain a forward, hunched posture. In turn, this can lead to a tear in the rotator cuff tissue and result in a more severe injury that can cause weakness, extreme pain, and worst, limit your ability to carry out activities in your daily life.
Proper body alignment is more important than it seems. Although usually overlooked, this plays a vital part in our overall well being. Plus, it can also boost our mood and confidence. Although improving proper posture will take time and conscious effort, the benefits that it will bring will be all worth it in the long run.
