Staff Spotlight
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. Of course, there are ways that you can improve your posture at home, as well. Here are several strategies 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 seats will help a bit, but for improved posture you may need to add additional cushioning that will help you keep your back straight. • Be mindful of how you lift heavy objects. Keep your shoulders square and your chest forward. When lifting something that is over 50 lbs it is important to take extra care. Lead with your hips and try to keep the weight close to your body. Lifting something improperly can lead to injury to your neck or back, 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 t he r ap i s t to learn more a b o u t h o w y o u can take steps to start improving your posture today.
Lindsey Jackman Physical Therapy Assistant
Lindsey has been working as a physical therapy assistant at FPT for 3 years now. She has an associate’s and a bachelor’s degree in PTA, exercise physiology, and psychology that she received from Finlandia University in the upper peninsula and Hamline University in Minnesota. Lindsey participated inNCCA hockey and lacrosse for four years while earning her degrees. Lindsey loves physical therapy because she loves helping people and exercising. When Lindsey is not at work in the summer, you can find her on the lake wake surfing and racing her stand up jetski. In the winter you’ll find her at the ice rink coaching the Walled Lake Wild varsity hockey team. Throughout her career at FPT, Lindsey has been taking classes to further her education. She aspires to earn her doctorate of physical therapy. Lindsey works in the clinic with patients as well as at our aquatic site for pool therapy.
Exercise Essentials
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Spine Twist This exercise is functional,effective and doable.
Sit on a chair or a ball with good posture, arms crossed on chest. Twist to look behind you, then twist the other way. If sitting on the floor is too difficult, this exercise can be performed while seated in a chair.
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