Spine and Health

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What can poor posture do?

A landmark study has shown that spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse rate and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture. [1]

Posture 1 Posture 2

DID YOU KNOW?

The degree of forward head posture directly correlates with headache duration, headache frequency and presence of trigger points in the muscles at the base of your skull. So every inch that your head comes back will be less headaches. That’s a weight off my mind!! (Pun completely intended)[2]

heachache

HOW DOES POOR POSTURE EFFECT SO MUCH IN YOUR BODY?

Poor posture effects the nerve endings in the muscles of your neck which fire up and can stimulate the part of your nervous system that controls the heart and lungs. Not to mention that poor posture can dramatically reduce your lung capacity! [3]

Before Ben After Ben

Our Posture Experts at Spine and Health in North Sydney or Crows Nest can fix your posture so you experience less pain, improved health, better breathing and increased energy.  When your spine is in proper alignment, your entire body can benefit from better overall health and allow you to be the best you can be!

Contact our Chiropractors at Spine and Health, they are the experts in pain and posture. The chiro’s will conduct a thorough examination including a digital postural analysis and create an individual plan of action for you should they feel chiropractic care can help you and your posture.

 

References

[1] Postural and Respiratory Modulation of Autonomic Function, Pain, and Health. Lennon J, Shealy C, Cady R, Matta W, Cox R, Simpson W. AJPM (American Journal of Pain Management) 1994; 4:36-39.

[2] Trigger points in the suboccipital muscles and forward head posture in tension-type headache. Headache. 2006 Mar; 46 (3): 454-60. Fernandez-de-las-Penas C, Alonso-Blanco C, Cuadrado ML, Gerwin RD, ParejaJA.Department of Physical Therapy, University Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain

[3] The Neurochemically Diverse Intermedius Nucleus of the Medulla as a Source of Excitatory and Inhibitory Synaptic Input to the Nucleus TractusSolitarii.  Ian J. Edwards, Mark L. Dallas, Sarah L. Poole, Carol J. Milligan, YuchioYanagawa, GáborSzabó, FerencErdélyi, Susan A. Deuchars, and Jim Deuchars. The Journal of Neuroscience, August 1, 2007, 27 (31): 8324-8333.

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Proper posture makes you less stressed

Most of us have been told since we were kids how important proper posture is for maintaining good health. But, did you know that good posture also plays a big role in making you less stressed?

Good posture enables you to breathe properly so that more air can move in and out of the lungs. This results in more oxygen and blood reaching your brain, thereby reducing stress and anxiety and leaving you feeling happy and content. Our Chiropractors at Spine and Health Centre in North Sydney and Crows Nest can properly align your spine and fix your posture, so that you can experience pain free movement and less stress.

Reserve Energy for Less Stress

Proper and efficient use of your muscles allows you to use less energy while also preventing muscle strain and injury. A good example of this is not bending at the waist to lift something off the floor. Bending at the waist is incorrect. It puts unnecessary strain on your lower back and also causes you to use more energy than is necessary. Bending your knees while maintaining proper posture is the correct way to lift and will help you reserve energy for other tasks.

Our Posture Experts at Spine and Health can straighten your spine so that you can move while using less energy. With proper posture, you are able to use your muscles efficiently and correctly. This helps you avoid muscle strain and reserve energy for less stress.

Neck and Shoulder Pain Increases Stress

Neck and shoulder pain is a very common complaint among many people and can be a big reason for stress. Most neck and shoulder pain not caused by trauma is caused by having bad posture habits. One of the most common causes of this pain is forward head and shoulder posture. This happens when the neck sits forward, causing the head to be in front of the shoulders. Over time, this bad posture habit can put unnecessary stress on the lower neck vertebrae. Our Chiropractors at Spine and Health will properly align your spine to eliminate neck and shoulder pain and reduce stress.

Sit Up Straight for Less Stress

According to a 1988 study by Strack, Martin and Stepper, the position of the body can greatly influence the mind, mood and levels of stress. For example, if you sit up straight with your shoulders back and head up, you will feel more confident, happier and less stressed.

Sitting slouched with slumped shoulders tends to promote low levels of self-confidence and increased levels of stress and anxiety. A spine that is properly aligned will enable to you sit up straight without pain and will help you feel less stressed.

If you are experiencing anxiety or stress caused by the effects of poor posture, see our Posture Experts at Spine and Health in North Sydney or Crows Nest.
They can help fix your posture, which will reduce your stress levels dramatically. When your body is properly aligned by our Chiropractors at Spine and Health, you will experience less muscle strain and reduced stress, and your body will be able to work more efficiently.
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Setting Up Your Office Space for Improved Posture

Improve your posture while you work! An ergonomically set up work station can dramatically help improve your posture so that you can work effectively and pain free.

If you work in an office setting, you probably spend a lot of time sitting behind a desk in front of your computer. This constant sitting can often result in slouching and poor posture. While it may not appear to be unhealthy, this can actually lead to several problems including tense muscles, pinched nerves and even carpel tunnel syndrome.

To prevent these injuries and problems, it is very important to make sure that your office space is set up to help improve your posture and keep you injury free. Here are a few ergonomic tips and suggestions that will help you set up your office space for improved posture.

Along with the following ergonomic tips and suggestions, consider contacting the Posture Experts at Spine and Health in North Sydney or Crows Nest for a posture assessment. We can fix your posture so that you can work effectively and without pain.

  1. Be Aware of How You Sit

Pull your chair in so you can sit as close to your desk as possible, and make sure your upper arms are parallel to your spine. Also, when your hands are placed on your work surface, your elbows should be at a 90-degree angle. Your legs should be bent at the knees and your feet should sit flat on the floor. If possible, try to get up and stretch often. Avoid sitting at the edge of your seat, as this can place unnecessary stress on the lumbar discs. Sit as far back in your chair as possible.

  1. Mouse and Keyboard Placement

It may sound very simple, but the placement of your mouse and keyboard is very crucial in giving you a healthy working environment. The alphanumeric area of your keyboard should be kept centered on your desk so that the “B” key is directly in front of you. Also, the mouse should be kept at the same height and as close to the keyboard as possible so that you do not need to bend your wrists when typing. If your desk has a keyboard tray, make sure your mouse is on the tray with your keyboard.

  1. Monitor Placement

The placement of your monitor is another important factor in setting up a posture friendly workspace. Your eye level should be about three inches down from the top of the monitor casing. Most monitors allow for only minimal adjusting, so you may want to invest in or make your own monitor stand. Your monitor should be about an arm’s length away from you while you are working with no glare. You may need to adjust your lighting to minimize glare or tilt your computer slightly up or down.

A few of these ergonomic changes in and around your workspace can go a long way in improving your posture and preventing muscle strain or injury. It is very important to always be mindful of your posture so that you will be able to benefit from your properly set-up workspace. Avoid slouching, keep your elbows close to your body, and try to take breaks when possible. This is incredibly important if you spend a lot of time sitting at a desk during the day.

As well as this, consider posture therapy with one of our chiropractors at North Sydney and Crows Nest Spine and Health to greatly reduce your chances of muscle strain and injury and more serious conditions such as arthritis and disc degeneration.