The positive effects of good posture are two-pronged. It brings many positive physical effects on the person and also creates a positive impression on other people. A person with good posture presents confidence, smartness and vitality. Since then, one who has good posture has been perceived to have grown up educated, intelligent, and wealthy. But more important than the positive image you leave to other people when you have good posture, are the benefits it offers to your physical body as well as to your mental and emotional well-being.
Benefits of Good Posture
Among the physical benefits you can get from having good posture include:
- It promotes a healthy and strong musculoskeletal structure, which includes the spine, muscles and joints. It can reduce physical stress in these areas of your body. Aches, soreness, and pains especially from your head, back and neck can be minimized.
- It facilitates better breathing and better intake of oxygen. If you stand erect, you have lots of room in your chest for breathing. You will have more sources of energy and feel better, as a result.
- It promotes good circulation and digestion.
- It improves frame of mind.
Effects of Poor Posture
Poor posture on the other hand, may cause the following negative effects:
- Muscle stiffness. If posture is poor, a group of postural muscles may be stretched while the opposing muscles tight.
- Joint damage, aches and pains. The imbalance and misalignment in the postural muscles is a cause.
- Back pain and neck pain
- Weak bones and muscles
- Joint damage, aches and pains
- Excessive stress on the back that may lead to more complicated conditions like restricted motion of segments of the spine
How to Improve Posture
Practicing proper posture should be taught early on to children so that as they grow old, it wouldn’t be difficult to change their ways and movement. However, if an individual was not properly educated about the benefits of good posture, it’s not too late to improve.
When standing, make sure that your body weight is distributed evenly between your two feet – on the bottom. Your feet should be parallel to each other with a distance of between three to five inches between them. Your knees should be straight but relaxed. You should feel that your spine follows its natural curve. Let your abdomen in and your chest out. When you stand in front of the mirror at this position, it is as if there is an imaginary straight line from the top of your head all the way down to your hips and between your ankles.
Here’s what you can do to improve your posture:
- Minimize the use of high-heeled shoes. They are not helping your posture.
- When sitting and working in front of a computer, the screen should be at eye-level. The height of the table should be at elbow height. The height of the chair should be adjusted such that your forearms are parallel to the floor when your hands are on the keyboard. This posture will reduce the strain on your neck and back.
- Sit upright in the car seat so you can reach the pedals comfortably, with knees slightly bent.
- When doing household work like vacuuming and ironing, stand with your shoulders level.
There are many more activities that can do when you should not forget about your posture. Always keep in mind the basics of good posture in your everyday life for your health and well being.