Is Poor Posture the Root of Your Chronic Pain?
Do you have daily or recurring aches and pains? Do your back and neck get stiff and achy at the end of the day? Did you know poor posture could be to blame? Our physiotherapists at Lake Country Physiotherapy in Orillia can help you figure out what’s causing your pain and provide you with the solutions you’re looking for.
Back and neck pain can become more severe as your posture deteriorates. When your body becomes accustomed to poor posture, it becomes more difficult to make a quick adjustment back into good posture.
The good news is that Lake Country Physiotherapy physiotherapists can teach you how to correct your posture and provide relief before it becomes a major issue! Make an appointment at our Orillia clinic today.
How does posture affect pain?
The position(s) of a person’s body in space is referred to as posture. Prolonged postures, such as sitting or standing for long periods of time, can cause back stiffness and soreness.
We spend far too much of our time staring at a computer screen, hunched over our desks, or staring down at our phones. These postures put a lot of strain on the neck and back, especially when they are slouched, tilted forward, or looking down for long periods of time.
Slouching causes a forward-head posture in the upper part of the spine. Slouching puts strain on the neck muscles and joints, causing neck and upper back pain, as well as arm pain and chronic headaches.
Slouching also has an effect on the mid-back by changing how your ribs naturally align. Sitting and standing like this all day may cause internal problems as it puts pressure on your lungs, heart, and digestive system.
Slouched posture also affects the lower back. Slouching causes increased pressure on the lumbar discs and tightening of the muscles in your hips and legs. This tension affects how the pelvis and spine move, which frequently results in lower back pain.
Pain in the spine is the most common symptom of poor posture. When you slouch or hunch over, your back muscles contract constantly to keep you upright, and they overcompensate. Constant poor posture can cause an unusual amount of wear and tear on the spine over time, increasing the risk of spine arthritis.
The good news is that working with a physiotherapist to improve your posture through exercises is a successful way to alleviate neck and back pain.
How physiotherapy can help your posture
After years of practicing poor postural habits, your back, shoulder, and neck muscles will likely find standing or sitting with a straight posture to be challenging. Here are a few steps you can take to try and help:
Sit properly: If you are at a desk for extended periods of the day, make sure you sit upright. Make sure you scoot your buttocks to the back of the chair and sit back against the backrest of the chair. Use a lumbar support to make sure you maintain the upright position.
Take breaks: If you are an office worker, most of the day is spent sitting behind a computer. It is vital to make sure that you get up every 30-45 minutes and take a short walk, at least for a minute or two.
Exercise: Taking the time to walk or jog around the neighborhood every day can highly improve your well-being. Exercise is essential, primarily if your job produces several hours of inactivity. Strengthening is also an effective way to reduce the risk of injury to your neck and back.
What should I expect in physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is the ideal tool for providing you with an opportunity to understand what may be causing your pain. We can help you mobilize your spine and strengthen the surrounding muscles to alleviate the pain associated with your poor postural habits.
Physiotherapists are dedicated to getting you back on track to a pain-free life. They will evaluate your posture to determine the best treatments necessary for you, and then they will create a treatment plan unique for your needs.
Your therapist will teach you strategies like:
- Stand tall whenever you are standing or walking.
- Use support when you sit to keep your posture correct.
- Maintain a straight spine when you lift heavy objects.
Ready to find relief? Contact Lake Country Physiotherapy today!
If you are experiencing pain and think it may result from your posture, give Lake Country Physiotherapy in Orillia a call today. Addressing your posture early on is the best way to prevent an issue from becoming more debilitating!