When you were a child, were you often reminded by your mother to stand or sit up straight and maintain good posture? Did she tell you not to slouch? Maintaining good posture is an important habit and being asked to do it is valuable advice, but many people fail to notice this when it should be so simple.
The reason for maintaining good posture, especially if back pain is so common, is simple. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 60% to 70% of adults in industrialized countries complain of back pain at some point in their lives. This condition is a leading cause of disability, and even younger generations are at risk of back pain.
protect your spine
If you don’t want to experience back pain, your spine must be stable and strong, according to Pembroke Pines pain management experts. If you continue to slouch or slouch—two hallmarks of poor posture—then you’ll strain your muscles and ligaments, ultimately injuring your neck and back.
Did you know that your spine has three natural curvatures?
- Cervical Curve – the inward curve of the neck
- Thoracic Curve – The outward curve of the upper back
- Lumbar Curve – The inward curve of the lower back.
Harvard Health says good posture can keep these curves aligned correctly. Poor posture, on the other hand, can put pressure, pull, or strain on these curves.
If you work in an environment that requires you to sit and stand for long periods of time, you should pay attention to good posture.
How to have good posture
Good posture is a relatively simple measure to combat back pain, and the pain management experts at Pembroke Pines encourage our patients to do just that. Here are some tips on how to achieve this:
- If you are standing, you need to keep your head in line with your body, stand straight, and push your shoulders back slightly. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart to maintain balance
- Place your weight on the balls of your feet and let your hands hang naturally to the side. If you need to stand for a long time, you can occasionally shift your weight from one foot to the other, or from your toes to your heels.
- If you sit for a long time, it is not recommended to cross your legs. While this is a common habit, especially among women, it causes your pelvic bones to rotate and increases stress on your back and neck. Make sure your chair has proper back support. If not, you can place a small pillow behind your waist to relax your back muscles.
- Don’t shrug your shoulders when you sit down. Keep your upper back and neck straight but comfortable.
If you’re not used to good posture, it may feel a little stiff at first. The key is to keep practicing and developing yourself so that you can have good, natural posture as quickly as possible.
Learn more about back pain management:
If you have been suffering from back pain, consult today with Dr. Escobar, a Florida pain care specialist with years of experience in pain management. His clinic offers comprehensive interventional pain management services
Our pain specialists are experts at performing procedures such as spinal cord stimulation, platelet-rich plasma injections, epidural steroid injections and other innovative techniques. All of these can help you reduce pain and restore your quality of life.
To learn more about pain management in Pembroke Pines, Aventura, and Hollywood, you can contact us at 954-322-8586. If you have any questions, please contact us.
The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute the provision of medical advice and does not substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
