Discover The 5 Dangers Of Bad Posture

Physical Therapy Newsletter by Ramsey Rehab

Health

& Fitness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

February 2017

5 Dangers Of Bad Posture Discover The When was the last time you looked in the mirror or saw a photo of your posture? If you suffer from frequent aches and pains, your posture may be to blame. In today’s society, we spend an increasing amount of time sitting looking at the TV, computer screen, and looking down at our phones. If you fit into this category, then changes in your posture can have numerous negative effects on your body. “ Posture requires the interaction between bones, muscles, connective tissue, joints and neurons. In addition to contributing to overall wellness, posture is a form of communication that reveals a person’s degree of confidence and self-esteem. Poor posture is a contributing factor to many symptoms and diseases.”

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5 Dangers Of Bad Posture Discover The

Wondering About Your Ache or Pain? ASK YOUR QUESTION! 5. Walking – Your center of gravity changes with bad posture, causing your balance to decline. In addition, weakness to the hip muscles with prolonged sitting causes problems with walking. All these changes can have a serious impact on your mobility and ability to walk safely . What happens to your body with bad posture? 1. Forward head posture – This creates strain on the neck, shortening the muscles in the back of the neck. Neck pain, radiating pain to the shoulders or arms, chronic headaches, and even low back pain can result. 2. Mid-back slouching – This can change the shape of your ribs and drive your head forward over time. The result can be pain in the mid-back and problems with your neck. Eventually, compression of your lungs, heart, and digestive system can occur, causing internal problems. 3. Low back - Low back pain is very common with poor posture. The back muscles have to contract excessively to keep you upright, causing you pain. Bad posture also causes abnormal wear and tear on the low back, increasing the risk of arthritis in the spine. 4. Hips and legs – With sitting for prolonged periods, the hip joints lose range of motion and the muscles in the front of the hips stiffen. These tightened muscles then pull on the low back, causing low back pain.

Call to ask your question today and a physical therapist will get right back to you, answering your question and giving you advice. www.RamseyRehab.com

Think Ramsey Rehab FIRST

Why You Need To Come In For Another Check-Up: 9 Sit for long periods comfortably 9 Walk for long distances 9 Live an active and healthy lifestyle Take Care of Your Aches and Pains. Before It’s Too Late. 9 Move without pain 9 Bend and move freely 9 Balance confidently and securely

Now Open: Ramsey Rehab now has a location open in Spencer: 369 Main Street, Suite 3.

Ramsey Rehab Fitchburg (978) 353-0030 Ramsey Rehab Holden (508) 829-3900 Ramsey Rehab Orange (978) 633-4491

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Helpful Tips

Even those who use snowblowers often have to “touch up” later in certain areas with a shovel. Consult the snow shoveling tips below to make the job go more smoothly -- and to make it less boring, as well. Are You Shoveling Snow The Safe Way?

You Should Have a Plan Before You Start Snow Shoveling Leave these 2 areas for last:

1. Don’t fuss about the rest of the snow around the car just yet. More snow will accumulate there when you clean the car, so you might as well wait till then to clean up around the perimeter of the car. 2. Hold off on snow shoveling (with any degree of thoroughness) where your driveway meets the street. As plows go by, they’ll be barricading that area with more snow. Save this area till you’re ready to pull out with your car (or till after you’ve rested up).

Speaking of resting, if you can afford the luxury of clearing a driveway in stages, that’s the way to go. If the storm’s over, divide the workload into sections; if the storm’s still in progress, make a preliminary sweep, then go back after the storm.

How To Shovel To Protect Your Body From Injury Once you step outside and start wielding your shovel, remember the following: • Bend your knees and lift with your legs • As you lift the snow, keep the shovel blade close to you, to reduce back strain • Switch off between snow shoveling right-handed and left-handed, so that you’re working different muscles • Likewise, periodically change your grip on the hand holding the bar (palm under vs. palm over) • When the snowfall is heavy (1 foot in depth, let’s say), don’t try to clean right down to the ground with a single scoop. Instead, skim the top 6 inches off, then scoop up the bottom 6 inches. Otherwise, you could be hurting yourself by lifting too much.

An Easy At-Home Exercise To Zap Back Pain

Exercises copyright of

www.simpleset.net

PRONE ALTERNATE ARM AND LEG While lying face down and keeping your lower abdominals tight, slowly raise up an arm and opposite leg. Slowly lower and then raise the opposite side. Do not allow your spine to move the entire time. 6 repetitions on each side.

“Before coming to Ramsey I had this awful pain in my lower back. I couldn’t walk, sit or stand for long periods of time without being in extreme pain. Since coming to Ramsey my pain has gotten much better. It’s to the point where I rarely have any pain at all. I’m very satisfied with the help I have received from Ramsey!” R.L. Now, I rarely have pain at all! Patient Results

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