Think back to when you where a child and I am sure you can hear your parents telling you to “stop slouching” or to “sit up straight”. At the time it was just another thing that our parents did to annoy us, but as with most things we grow up and discover our parents where right all along.
There are several things in everyday life that can lead to poor posture, but the most common are; carrying a heavy purse, spending lengths of time in an office chair, driving, holding a cell phone, and sleeping.
The question is – are you guilty of anything I listed above? My guess is that you are!
I’m sure that you know poor posture becomes second nature to most people – which ends up causing neck and back pain by altering the body’s alignment. Lucky for you the main factors are controllable, and not super hard to correct.
5 Tips to Help You Improve Your Posture
1. Adjust your work situation. For those working in an office for eight to nine hours a day, ergonomics play a big factor in your posture. Please read my previous post for more detailed information (this will link to the one about setting up your workstation).
2. Try posture-friendly props when sitting. Lumbar support pillows or seat wedges are a great way to take the strain off your spine.
3. Move around and strengthen the upper body. Get up – move around – get your blood pumping and enhance your circulation. For each hour of sitting you do make sure you get up and stretch!
4. Avoid carrying heavy bags. This doesn’t just apply to women! I am saying this to women who carry a purse on a daily basis, or men that carry briefcases or laptop bags. I know it doesn’t sound stylish – but try a backpack instead – which is really the only way to evenly distribute the weight.
5. Take long, slow deep breathes. Breathe in through your nose – hold it for a few seconds – then exhale out through your mouth. By focusing on your breathing you can decrease stress, which in turn will help improve your posture.
Now that you know these things you can get to work correcting that posture your parents worked so hard to encourage you to have. Give it some time, be patient, but if you are having a hard time consider giving us a call and booking some time with a therapist.
We can be reached at 201-585-7300, or you can also fill out our contact form online.