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A flat back does not indicate good posture. In fact, your spine curves naturally near your lower back, your neck, and the middle of your back. Proper posture, or a neutral spine, will maintain your back’s natural curves while keeping your head aligned with your shoulders and the top of your shoulders over your hips. This allows the muscles surrounding the spine to be both balanced and supported equally. When standing, your knees should be slightly bent to best help your body to align. When sitting, weight should be evenly distributed with both feet flat on the floor. Avoid hunching over in any position! Poor posture affects more than you’d think! It can cause neck, back, and shoulder pain; affect your flexibility; cause musculoskeletal system problems; interfere with how your joints move and work together; affect your balance; make breathing difficult; and interfere with your digestive system. Good posture will put less stress on your lower back, leading to fewer pains and cramps. It can also reduce the amount of pressure placed on your neck and the surrounding muscles, which, if left untreated, can cause tension headaches. Keeping your body properly aligned also reduces the risk of damaging the discs in your back. This relieves your muscles, which can lead to increased energy and can even increase your lung capacity. You may be surprised to learn that poor posture can contribute to incontinence, which can lead to leaking a little bit of urine whenever you laugh, sneeze, or cough. Poor posture can put extra pressure on your abdominal region, including your bladder, so your pelvic floor muscles aren’t able to keep
up. Slouching and hunching over can also lead to possible constipation, especially if you are in a hunched position on the toilet. Lastly, another surprising side effect of poor posture is heartburn. When excess pressure is placed on your stomach, stomach acid can go up instead of down, which can create a plethora of digestive complications. To promote good posture, get in the routine of exercising regularly to build up bone and muscle strength to help keep your body aligned to feel more natural. When exercising, avoid movements that place too much pressure on your back, and avoid lifting with only your back muscles. When working on your computer, be sure to position the monitor directly in front of your face to avoid hunching over. Try to avoid bending over often or heavy lifting. It can also be beneficial to have common household items easily accessible to limit the amount of shuffling heavy things. Instead of carrying a heavy purse or shoulder bag, consider switching to a backpack to even the load out and avoid shoulder, back, and neck strains. When relaxing at home, use pillows to keep yourself propped up to avoid slouching. It’s never too late to make improvements to your dynamic or static posture, especially if bad posture is contributing to poor health, tension, or pain. If you need assistance in finding your correct body alignment or activities, stretches, and exercises to promote a healthy posture, contact us today!
Share Your Advice and Well Wishes!
One-Pan Baked Salmon and Veggies
Wish Dr. Patt and Dr. StaceyWell on Their New Journeys
Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
It’s asparagus season! Celebrate with this easy one-pan salmon dish for two.
Not only is Pro PT East’s grand opening planned for May, but we also have some other big events we are looking forward to in the office! Dr. Patt is getting married in May and Dr. Stacey is expecting her first grandchild in late May/early June. Getting married and having your first grandchildren are huge, exciting, and life-changing events and both Dr. Patt and Dr. Stacey want to hear from you! What’s the #1 piece of advice that you have for Dr. Patt for a great and healthy marriage? What’s the #1 piece of advice that you have for Dr. Stacey for becoming a grandparent? What do you know now that you wish you knew then? Email in your well-wishes and pieces of wisdom to info@ proptinc.com or DrPatt@proptinc.com. We can’t wait to hear from you!
INGREDIENTS
• 1 lb spring potatoes, halved • 2 tbsp olive oil (divided) • 8 asparagus spears, trimmed and halved • 2 handfuls cherry tomatoes • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 5-oz salmon fillets • 1 handful fresh basil
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 400 F. 2. In an oven-proof dish, combine the potatoes and 1 tbsp olive oil. Roast for 20 minutes. 3. Remove the dish from the oven and add the asparagus. Toss, and bake for 15 more minutes. 4. Remove the dish from the oven and add the cherry tomatoes. Toss. Drizzle with balsamic, then nestle the salmon fillets into the vegetables. Drizzle with the remaining oil, and bake for 10–15 minutes. 5. Remove the dish from the oven, garnish with basil leaves, and serve!
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