May is National Posture Month! If that makes you want to stand up straight, you’ll be giving your body a boost! Proper posture is essential for maintaining good health and well-being. Dr. Cutsinger shares the importance of good posture and how to correct it.
The Importance of Proper Alignment
Proper alignment of the spine is crucial for good posture. Small misalignments can lead to postural deviations, such as head tilt, high or low shoulders, and hip misalignment. These deviations cascade into a chain of events, where the body compensates to adjust to the misalignment. This can lead to chronic pain and injury.
How Poor Posture Contributes to Chronic Pain
Poor posture contributes to chronic pain by causing abnormal wear patterns and structural changes in the spine over time. Often, people only recognize a postural problem once pain presents. By then, the issue has been going on for a while and has progressed, making it difficult to change.
Techniques and Therapies for Correction
Chiropractic adjustments are the primary technique used to correct spinal misalignment. However, traction therapy is also effective for scoliosis and pelvic tilt. Specific adjustive techniques like Toggle Recoil can correct laterality of the atlas vertebra. Pierce-Stillwagon Technique can help improve the neck’s curve, which offsets the effects of gravitational pull, reducing abnormal wear patterns.
Simple Daily Adjustments to Correct Posture
Making small daily changes can yield big dividends when it comes to your posture. These include being mindful of sleeping positions and having balance and symmetry. For side sleepers, use a pillow between the knees to restrict hip rotation. For back sleepers with back issues, use a pillow under the knees to take some pressure off the low back.
One of the significant posture problems today is “tech neck” from looking down at phones or sitting at a desk. Using a cervical roll under the neck at the end of the day for 10 minutes can help offset the effects of daily stress.
Good posture matters, and we want to help you achieve and maintain proper posture so you can feel your best. Contact us today to book an appointment