Improve Your Posture To Help Relieve Back Pain

Do you catch yourself slouching over your phone or computer, then sit up straight to correct your posture, only to gradually slip back into that same slouched position moments later? If so, it’s possible that your posture may be contributing to your pain and discomfort. Optimal spinal health depends on many factors; one of which is posture. Poor posture can increase the stress on your spine and musculature, which can lead to pain, discomfort and various health issues. Deeper than that, living life on your terms starts to become unnecessarily difficult. Fortunately, being mindful of your posture throughout the day and making necessary adjustments can help get you back to doing what you love. Read more to learn about how posture plays a role in the health of your spine, and how chiropractic care can help! 

Spinal Function

Understanding how the spine works is crucial to maintaining a healthy spine and saying goodbye to chronic back and neck pain. The main job of your spine is to protect your spinal cord and support the weight of the body. Each of the 24 vertebrae are stacked on top of one another, and separated by intervertebral discs, which act as shock absorbers. Your spinal cord lies in the center of the spine, which acts to send signals between your body and brain. Three main regions of your spine (neck, mid back and low back) have curves that help support and distribute weight to different areas of the spine. 

• Neck Curve- Cervical lordosis 

• Upper Back Curve- Thoracic kyphosis

• Lower Back Curve- Lumbar lordosis

While these curves in the spine are completely natural and adaptive for us to move around freely, the increase or decrease of these curvatures due to prolonged postures can put excess stress on your spine. By acting to minimize as much stress as possible on the spine, you can ensure that your spine stays healthy for the long haul and doesn’t stop you from doing what you love. 

The Link Between Posture and Back Pain 

From how high your desk chair is positioned to how you shift your weight when standing in line, there are several factors that contribute to poor posture. The following outlines just some examples of poor posture and how it can contribute to spinal issues: 

• Slouching: Slouching when you are sitting down brings your spine out of its natural curvature and puts extra stress on your low back. Depending on how severe, it can even increase stress and tension in the mid to upper back. 

• Rounded Shoulders: When your shoulders shift forward and start to round, there is increased stress placed on the upper back which can lead to discomfort and stiffness.

• Anterior Pelvic Tilt: When your pelvis sits in this forward tilted position for extended periods of time, the curve in your low back will be exaggerated which may lead to low back pain and decreased spinal function. 

As you can see, if you struggle with maintaining proper posture it’s important to address it as soon as possible, as to avoid lasting changes to the spine, which have the potential to require more invasive treatments in the future. 

Risks of Poor Posture

When unaddressed, poor posture can negatively impact your spinal health and contribute to a number of different conditions. For instance, over time your body will naturally experience wear and tear, but poor posture may exacerbate its effects and lead to degenerative changes that cause pain and decreased mobility. Poor posture can also contribute to spinal misalignment, which is implicated in many conditions like chronic headaches, back pain and numbness and tingling in the hands or feet to name a few. Most importantly, pain and decreased mobility will make your day to day life more challenging. Address your posture now, alleviate unnecessary stress on your spine and prevent these problems from happening in the first place! 

How to Improve Your Posture

The best thing you can do to improve your posture is to be more mindful about your body’s position throughout the day. Small tweaks can lead to big changes when it comes to adjusting your habits and daily routines. When sitting, keep your feel flat on the floor with your knees bent and back supported. When standing, make sure your weight is evenly distributed throughout both feet, and make sure you aren’t slouching. If you spend several hours each day sitting, or in front of the computer, you should definitely put some more thought into the ergonomics of your workspace; adjusting your chair so your feet are flat, your knees are level with your hips and your eye level is slightly below the top of your screen will go a long way in promoting the health of your spine. 

How Thryve Chiropractic Can Help You

While practicing proper posture for spinal health is a daily process that patients must do on their own, teaming up with a chiropractic specialist is the most effective way to optimize your posture and spinal health. Chiropractic focuses on diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders in a conservative manner. Through targeted manual therapy, spinal adjustments, and individualized exercise prescription chiropractic helps promote the body’s innate healing mechanism. Benefits include pain relief by improving spinal mobility and relieving stress on muscles and joints.

At Thryve Chiropractic, expect personalized care that is geared toward improving the health of your spine and musculoskeletal system. No cookie cutter plans here! We design comprehensive treatment plans specifically to meet your goals. Are you ready to take the first step towards a healthier you? Schedule a discovery visit here to learn about the life changing benefits of chiropractic treatment with Thryve Chiropractic!