How Do You Know If You Have Bad Posture?

Millions of people suffer from bad posture, especially since jobs today generally require that you sit in front of a desk all day. Sitting for too long and sitting with poor posture can have a negative impact on your body.

 

What Is Good Posture?

Having proper posture does not mean standing up perfectly straight or sitting down with a rigid back. Good posture is placing the minimum amount of stress in whatever position you are in, from standing to sitting to sleeping.

 

Why Does Your Back or Neck Hurt Constantly?

Ongoing pain in your neck or your back is a significant indicator of poor posture. Tightness in your back or even your legs can indicate bad posture. If that stiffness does not go away, more than likely, it is because of your posture.

 

What About a Hunched Back?

Having a hunched back or round upper back is a significant sign that you have poor posture. The medical term is kyphosis, and it happens most often in people that work in an office. The base of the neck can also get tight and develop a rounded appearance due to the forward head carriage.

 

What Other Tight Muscles Hurt?

If your shoulders are rounded and pectoral muscles are tight, that is a sign of poor posture. Sitting in front of a computer day after day can result in these muscles feeling tight or having an imbalanced stature. To fix it, you can stretch the chest and neck and work on your back muscle strength.

 

Why So Many Headaches?

Recurring headaches are typical when you have poor posture. If you have a forward head carriage, the neck joints are stressed to support the head. Neck muscles are then also strained, resulting in tension that leads to headaches. You should seek therapeutic assistance to work out these muscles and pains.

 

Why Does Your Pelvis Hurt?

Sitting on a chair leads to tight hip flexors. Your hip flexors go from the lower back to the front of your hip. If your hip flexors are tight, your pelvis will rotate forward, causing an unnatural curvature of the back, leading to pain. It is not unusual to feel pain in your lower or upper back or pelvic area where the hip flexors are located. Strengthening the hip, glutes, and core muscles will fix this issue.

 

Where Can You Find Help?

To get a leg up on the pain caused by bad posture, it is a good idea to take regular breaks. Regular stretching for the neck and back can help improve your posture over time. Additionally, seeking chiropractic or therapeutic help can also improve mobility. Examples of assistance include massage, Pilates, and seeing a chiropractor.

 

Seeking assistance is the best idea to get you started on a path towards better posture. In most cases, the effects of bad posture can be reversed or at least stopped in its tracks. Focus on strengthening your neck, shoulder, and core muscles. With time, you will see and feel a difference in your pain and your posture.

 

Get started on improving your posture, call Back and Neck Pain Centers in Seattle (206) 233-0818 or (206) 772-0088, Bellevue (425) 649-9335, and Tukwila, Washington (425) 243-1200 to schedule your appointment today!