How Posture Affects Back & Neck Pain
Remember back when your mother used to tell you that if you wouldn’tstophunchingyourshoulders,they’dbestuckthatway forever? An idle threat, one that barely anyone took seriously. Yet, fast forwarda fewdecadesand itturnsoutthatmommight have been on to something, after all. 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 andshoulderssothatyoucan improveyourposturepermanently, and in doing so bring relief to your chronic neck and back pain. The Posture & Pain Connection Notallbackpain iscausedbypoorposture,and it istruethatyou canhavepoorpostureforyearswithoutfeelingtheconsequences ofthatslouch,but intimethehabit is likelytocatchupwithyou. Therearecertainwaysthatyoucantell ifneckorbackpainmay be a result of poor posture, including:
• The pain in your back is worsened at certain times of day. For example, after you’ve spent a day at the office, or after a few hours on the couch. • Thepainfrequentlystarts inyourneckandmoves intoyour 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,suchasstartinganew jobwithanewdesk chair, or getting a new car. After years of practicing poor posture, your back, shoulder and neck muscles will find standing or sitting with straight posture is uncomfortable. This is because your muscles have grown accustomed to the slouching, and standing up straight will requiresomethoroughstretching.Thatdoesn’tmeanthatonce you have bad posture you can never correct it.
Call Blue Sky Physical Therapy at 303.388.1537 or visit blueskypt.com to schedule your appointment today!
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