HOW POSTURE CAN AFFECT YOUR NECK AND BACK PAIN THIS SPRING
(Continued from outside) A poor habit of bad posture can have a lasting impact on your neck and back. The worse your posture is, the more intense your back and neck pain can become. Unfortunately, once you start experiencing neck and back pain, simply squaring your shoulders isn’t likely to be much help. Working with a physical therapist can help you to train the muscles in your back, neck and shoulders so that you can improve your posture permanently, and in doing so bring relief to your chronic neck and back pain. The Posture and Pain Connection Not all back pain is caused by poor posture, and it is true that you can have poor posture for years without feeling the consequences of that slouch right away, but in time the habit is likely to catch up with you. There are certain ways that you can tell if neck or back pain may be a result of poor posture, including: •Thepain inyourback isworsenedatcertain times of day. For example, after you’ve spent a day at the office, or after a few hours on the couch.
find standing or sitting with straight posture to be uncomfortable. This is because your muscles have grown accustomed to the slouching, and standing up straight will require some thorough stretching. That doesn’t mean that once you have bad posture you can never correct it. Working with a physical therapist to improve your posture is a great way to overcome chronic neck and back pain. In physical therapy, you will be guided through a series of stretches and strength building exercises that can help you begin training your body to practice better posture, thereby reducing your back and neck pain.
• The pain frequently starts in your neck and moves into your upper and lower back. Pain that seems to travel from one area of the back to another is frequently an indication of posture concerns. • The pain will subside after switching positions, such as switching from sitting to standing or vice versa. • Back or neck pain that develops soon after a change in circumstances, such as starting a new job with a new desk chair, or getting a new car.
After years of practicing poor posture, your back, shoulder and neck muscles will likely
STAFF SPOTLIGHT DR. BRITTANY QUIRK, DPT CBD CLINIC DIRECTOR
Brittany earned her undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University in Alexandria with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.
She then received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from University of St Augustine in St Augustine, Florida.
Brittany enjoys outdoor activities like running, cycling, and hiking as well as yoga and traveling.
MagnoliaTherapyLA.com
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