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GOOD POSTURE IS GOOD HEALTH
How many times have we heard our parents say, 'sit up straight' or 'straighten your back'. In my youth I think I heard that at least 10 times a day, as I thought to myself, what?s the big deal. Well it turns out that posture is a big deal and my parents did know what they were talking about. Posture is an important part of health and we should strive to be more conscious of it. Without good posture your overall health may be compromised because long term effects of poor posture can affect bodily systems (such as digestion, elimination, breathing, muscles, joints and ligaments). A person with poor posture may often be tired or unable to work efficiently or move properly. Poor posture can cause fatigue because your muscles need to work harder. This wastes valuable energy. Your muscles will be come tight and achy. Eighty percent of all neck and back problems are the results of these tight muscles brought on by bad posture. Poor posture will cause, 'wear and tear' on our joints which increases our likelihood of developing degenerative osteoarthritis. Poor posture may result from a combination of several factors, which might include; car accidents, injuries, poor sleeping support, excessive weight, foot problems, weak muscles, occupational stress, negative self mage and careless sitting, standing and sleeping habits. IMPROVING YOUR POSTURE When Standing make sure that you hold your head up high, chin firmly forward shoulders back, chest out and stomach tucked in to increase your balance. If you stand all day at your job like a cashier or clerk, rest one foot on a stool or take breaks to get of your feet for a while. When Sitting - use a chair with firm low back support. Keep desk or table top elbow height, adjust the chair or use a footrest to keep pressure off the back of the legs, and keep your knees a little higher than your hips. Get up and stretch frequently--every hour if you sit for long periods of time. Do not sit on a fat wallet; it can cause hip imbalance! When working on a computer - take a one or two minute task break every 20 minutes when you work at a computer screen. Keep the screen 15 degrees below eye level. Place reference materials on a copy stand even with and close to the terminal. When sitting in the car - adjust the seat forward so your knees are higher than your hips. Put a small pillow or cushion in the small of your back. When sleeping - sleep on your side with your knees bent and head supported by a pillow, to make your head level with your spine. Or, sleep on your back, avoiding thick pillows under your head. Use a small pillow under your neck instead. Don't sleep on your stomach. Being aware of good posture is the first step to breaking old postural habits and reducing stress and strain on your body. Massage therapy is a good way to help you relieve those nasty muscles aches, strains and headaches caused by faulty posture. If you would like any further information feel free to come see us at The Family Practice Centre of Integrative Health and Healing. A Pile of Snow Shoveling Tips With winter weather fast approaching, it is a good time to examine some proper snow shoveling techniques;
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