If you are like the majority of the population, chances are you are
suffering from symptoms correlated with bad posture. Catching a glimpse
of myself in the mirror, it’s easy to see that I have forward neck/head
posture. This is normally caused by a variation of weak neck muscles,
seated job positions, incorrect sleeping positions, and prolonged
computer or TV use. But other than the un-esthetic aspect of bad
posture, there’s really not much to worry about right? Wrong.
Over time, poor posture takes a serious
toll on your spine, shoulders, hips, and knees. In fact, it can cause a
cascade of structural flaws that lead to back and joint pain, reduced
flexibility, and compromised muscles, all of which limit your ability to
burn fat or build strength.
Worst of all, bad posture can cause nerve constriction. As
the spine changes in shape, the resulting movements or subluxations can
put pressure on the surrounding spinal nerves. Because the nerves that
connect to the spine come from all over the body, these pinched nerves
can not only cause neck and back pain but may also cause pain in other
unrelated areas of the body.
The following article will explore 6 common bad posture positions
that many of us are making and will provide solutions to help correct
these postures.
Rounded Shoulders
The problem: The
sternoclavicular joints are unstable, therefore the body recruits the
pectoris minor muscles to stabilize the joint. This brings the shoulder
forward. With the shoulder forward, the upper trap turns on helping to
support the shoulder from the neck. There is also a relationship with
the thoracic spine & the sternum. The exercise described recruits
global muscles to do the work of the postural muscles what happens is
that for a short period of time holding through these muscles works then
the muscles fatigue and the person falls back into the poor posture.
The fix: Lie
facedown on the floor, with each arm at a 90-degree angle in the
high-five position. Without changing your elbow angle, raise both arms
by pulling your shoulders back and squeezing your shoulder blades
together. Hold for five seconds. That’s one rep; do two or three sets of
12 reps daily. Changing posture has to happen by working the postural
muscles which are deep to the global muscles.
Forward Neck/Head
The problem: Stiff muscles in the back of your neck.
The fix: Moving
only your head, drop your chin down and in toward your sternum while
stretching the back of your neck. Hold for a count of five; do this 10
times a day. Be careful not to push too hard or you will risk shifting
your vertebra, which can lead to constant headaches.
Anterior Pelvic Tilt
The problem:
There is a lack of support through the transverse abs and usually the
lower 2 lumbar vertebra are unstable which is why the body tightens up
the psoas & iliacus. There is often unstable hip joints due to
stretched joint capsules as well.
The fix: Kneel
on your left knee, with your right foot on the floor in front of you,
knee bent. Press forward until you feel the stretch in your left hip.
Tighten your butt muscles on your left side until you feel the front of
your hip stretching comfortably. Reach upward with your left arm and
stretch to the right side. Hold for a count of 30 seconds. That’s one
repetition; do three on each side.
Elevated Shoulder
The problem: The
muscle under your chest (running from your ribs to your shoulder
blades) is weak. This is often the Levator scapula muscle in spasm,
supported by a tight upper trap.
The fix: Sit
upright in a chair with your hands next to your hips, palms down on the
seat, arms straight. Without moving your arms, push down on the chair
until your hips lift up off the seat and your torso rises. Hold for five
seconds. That’s one repetition; do two or three sets of 12 reps daily.
Pigeon Toes
The problem: This
problem is a bit too complex to sum up in a sentence, however some
contributing factors to pigeon toes may be weak muscle support from the
glutes, bone deformities, arthritis, and more.
The fix: Lie
on one side with your knees bent 90 degrees and your heels together.
Keeping your hips still, raise your top knee upward, separating your
knees like a clamshell. Pause for five seconds, then lower your knee to
the starting position. That’s one rep. Perform two or three sets of 12
reps on each side daily.
Duck Feet
The problem: Again,
this problem could be caused my many factors. One contributing factor
may be that your oblique muscles and hip flexors are weak.
The fix: Get
into a pushup position with your feet resting on a stability ball.
Without rounding your lower back, tuck your knees under your torso,
using your feet to roll the ball toward your body, then back to the
starting position. That’s one rep. Do two or three sets of six to 12
reps daily.
Assess Your Posture Right Now!
Wear something form-fitting and take two
full-body photos—one from the front, one from the side. Relax your
muscles and stand as tall as you can, feet hip-width apart. Then refer
to the fix-it plan (below left) to diagnose your posture problems.
1 / Look at your ear. If it’s in front of the midpoint of your shoulder, your head is too far forward.
2 / Can you see your shoulder blade? That means your back is too rounded.
3 / If your hips tilt forward and you have a belly pooch (even if you don’t have an ounce of fat on your body) and your lower spine is arched significantly, this means you have an anterior pelvic tilt.
4 / Look at your shoulders. One shouldn’t appear higher than the other.
5 / Check out your kneecaps. Do they point inward, causing your knees to touch when your legs are straightened?
6 / See if you’re duck-footed. Your toes will point outward more than 10 degrees.
There you have it! Correcting poor posture
while you are young will help prevent further more severe complications
in the future.
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