The importance of having a good posture
Published on February 18, 2022 By Gentle Touch
Our gestures, movements, and postures are part of that so-called non-verbal language through which we transmit part of our personality to the world around us. Like this, our body speaks of us and our body postures.
A recent study revealed a high correlation between a person's personality and his body posture. While people with a more extroverted character tend to maintain a neutral position, with their head, spine and pelvis aligned, a more introverted person tends to adopt a hunched back with their head down. As we will see, our body postures can also help us to control our emotions.
Should we pay attention to our posture?
Maintaining a good posture guarantees that our entire body, including joints, muscles, and organs, works correctly and with the best possible performance.
Our body is designed for movement and activity, so the postural muscles, so-called because they are the main ones in charge of maintaining our posture against gravity, are in continuous activation, providing the basis to carry out movements or activities of greater intensity.
Nowadays, we tend to lead a more sedentary lifestyle, which leads us to adopt passive postures that do not require the same level of muscular support, such as sitting on the sofa or slouching when standing for an extended period. Generally, we try to compensate for these long periods of inactivity with concise periods of very high-intensity exercise.
Many people do not have the strength or muscular endurance to sit or stand with good posture for a long time. Hence, it is important to do sports to compensate for a sedentary lifestyle and strengthen the postural muscles to prevent injuries specifically. The consequences of poor posture maintained for prolonged periods are varied, but they usually result in back pain at any level, whether lumbar, dorsal, or cervical.
What to do at work and telecommuting?
Although we have already begun to overcome the phases of de-escalation due to the coronavirus, many workers continue to telecommute, and the health problems come. Some issues such as muscular discomfort, pain in the legs and neck, and contractures start to show. It is necessary to learn to have a good posture during work and telecommuting to solve this.
Experts advise performing daily massages on the affected areas to calm the pain. They also emphasize the importance of taking a collagen supplement to protect joints, prevent discomfort and maintain muscle mass to prevent pain from becoming chronic.
But this is not enough. To have a good posture during teleworking, we must modify some habits that we are not aware of.
The straight back and the shoulders back allow for a good posture during telecommuting. It is necessary to have an adjustable chair with a backrest. If possible, an ergonomic chair. Likewise, its height must be adjusted until the forearms form a 90º angle when reaching the keyboard.
The forearms should always be supported on the table or additional support. In the case of not having an adjustable chair, cushions can be used to achieve good posture.
At first, it will be necessary to verify that we maintain a good body posture from time to time. Bad habits such as dropping the shoulders forward, hunching the back, or adopting a neck position that causes cervical discomfort are common.
However, even if we maintain a good posture during teleworking, breaks are necessary. It is essential to take breaks of 5 to 10 minutes for every hour of work approximately. During breaks, we can take the opportunity to stretch to relax the muscles and reduce stress and tension.
The legs, back, and neck are some of the parts of the body that suffer the most from telecommuting. Therefore, good body posture and taking breaks are necessary to avoid discomfort or pain due to poor circulation. With a good posture, we will work better without suffering. But, above all, we will prevent the pain from becoming chronic.
Does posture really matter?
Good posture is vital for balance. By standing straight, we center the weight on the feet. Good posture also helps maintain proper form when exercising, leading to fewer injuries and better performance.
As they explained from the blog of the Harvard Medical School in the United States, a good balance has many rewards, including strengthening abilities in the practice of tennis, golf, running, dancing, skiing, or countless sports or activities.
And while we're not athletes, just walking on the ground or around the neighborhood requires balance. The same goes for getting into a chair, going up and downstairs, carrying packages, and even looking back.
Poor posture is not necessarily a bad habit. There are physical reasons that can explain it:
- The existence of inflexible muscles that decrease the range of motion. For example, overly shortened and compressed hip muscles draw the upper body forward and alter posture. Extremely tight chest muscles can pull the shoulders forward.
- Muscular strength affects balance in various ways: the core muscles of the back, lats, pelvis, and gluteal muscles have a strong core link between the upper and lower body. A weak muscular center encourages falls, tilts the body forward, and therefore unbalances. Strong muscles in the lower legs help keep us steady when we stand.
- Balance exercises address posture and balance issues with activities that build strength where it's needed and stretches that loosen tight muscles. Quick posture checks in the mirror before and during balance exercises can help achieve the best results. Increasing the strength and flexibility of your core muscles can help improve your posture dramatically in just a few weeks.
What is a improve my posture?
The ideal posture does not exaggerate or increase the lumbar, dorsal, or cervical curve. That is when the natural curves of the spine are maintained.
This is achieved by keeping the head upright in a balanced position without twisting the trunk, the pelvis in a neutral position, and the lower extremities aligned so that the body's weight is properly distributed.
Posture influences musculoskeletal health
Posture directly affects musculoskeletal health. According to Harvard Health Publishing, posture can be defined as the way you support your body while standing, sitting, or performing tasks such as lifting, bending, pulling, or reaching.
Good or correct posture represents keeping the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar curves balanced and aligned, with the weight evenly distributed on the feet. While nutrition and exercise habits are significant contributors to leading a healthy life, sometimes the path to a fitter, safer, and pain-free lifestyle begins with maintaining good posture.
Getting a good posture may not come so quickly. It often requires breaking old habits that the body has grown accustomed to, such as stooping with hunched shoulders, carrying objects to one side of the body, leaning forward while sitting in a chair, and sleeping on a mattress that does not provide adequate support.
Failure to correct posture over time can result in long-term adverse effects on the musculoskeletal system. For example, Harvard Health Publishing notes that repetitive activities at work or home, such as sitting at a computer or lifting and carrying, can produce muscle tension and tightness that can lead to back pain. Other factors, such as sports injuries, accidents, or congenital conditions such as scoliosis, can also inhibit developing good posture.
During movements that involve lifting, bending, reaching, or carrying an object, poor posture can cause imbalances and put tremendous stress on your muscles and spine, which could result in injury. Other side effects of poor posture can include sprains, strains, tears, carpal tunnel syndrome, hernia, and jaw pain.
A good posture is related to general health and quality of life, but it depends on personality, physiological, biomechanical, and educational factors. In short, it is about habits acquired throughout life and, for that reason, the reason is a behavior that can be re-learned and modified through physical activity, self-care, and even physical therapy.
At Gentle Touch, we know that it is vital that you have a good posture to get the body you want. In addition to taking this information into account, you can also complement the modeling of your figure with our services.
If you want to improve your body with expert hands. We are your best option in Connecticut. At Gentle Touch, we provide the best body solutions to get the confidence you need.
If you have questions about our services, do not hesitate to contact the Gentle Touch Team to get a FREE CONSULTATION. Please call (860) 216-6225 to schedule your appointment or email info@GentleTouchCT.com.
