HEALTH &WELLNESS The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
POSTURE’S AFFECT ON NECK & BACK PAIN RELIEF
• Thepainwillsubsideafterswitchingpositions,such asswitching fromsitting tostandingorviceversa. • 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, shoulderandneckmuscleswill likelyfindstandingor sittingwithstraightposturetobeuncomfortable.This isbecauseyourmuscleshavegrownaccustomed to the slouching, and standing up straight will require some thorough stretching. That doesn’t mean that onceyouhavebadpostureyoucannevercorrect it. Working with a physical therapist to improve your posture isagreatway toovercomechronicneckand back pain. In physical therapy, you will be guided through a series of stretches and strength building exercises thatcanhelpyoubegin trainingyourbody to practice better posture, thereby reducing your back and neck pain. Ofcourse, thereareways thatyoucan improveyour postureathome,aswell.Hereareseveralstrategies that are typically helpful: • Try to stand tall whenever you are standing or walking. Hold your head high and square your shoulders, but more importantly work on being the tallest version of yourself. Hunching over is the leading cause of poor posture. • Use support when you sit to keep your posture correct. Lumbar support in office chairs and car
Remember back when your mother used to tell you that if you wouldn’t stop hunching your shoulders, they’d be stuck that way forever? An idle threat, one that barely anyone took seriously. Yet, fast forward a fewdecadesand it turnsout thatmommighthave been on to something, after all. Apoorhabitofbadposturecanhavea lasting impact on your neck and back. The worse your posture is, the more intense your back and neck pain can become.Unfortunately,onceyoustartexperiencing neckandbackpain,simplysquaringyourshoulders 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 thatyoucanhavepoorposture foryearswithout 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 backpainmaybea resultofpoorposture, including: • Thepain inyourback isworsenedatcertain times ofday. Forexample,afteryou’vespentadayat the office, or after a few hours on the couch. • Thepain frequentlystarts inyourneckandmoves 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.
seats will help a bit, but for improved posture you may need to add additional cushioning that will help you keep your back straight. • Bemindfulofhowyou liftheavyobjects.Keepyour shoulders square and your chest forward. When liftingsomethingthat isover50 lbs it is importantto takeextracare.Leadwithyourhipsand try tokeep the weight close to your body. Lifting something improperlycan lead to injury toyourneckorback, which may make proper posture uncomfortable. What can Good Posture do for You? There are a lot of benefits of having good posture. Aside from saying goodbye to neck or back pain, improving your posture can provide several unexpected benefits to your lifestyle and personal well-being. Here are a few of the additional benefits of having good posture: • Proper posture creates quality exercise for your core and back • Improved respiratory health • Added protection for your organs, bones, joints and muscles • Reduced risk of arthritis If you are experiencing chronic neck and back pain, there is a good chance that it could be related to your posture. Contact your physical therapist by calling 801.293.8888 to learn more about how you can take steps to start improving your posture today.
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