7 Easy Ways To Fix Your Bad Posture!

Although sitting puts more pressure on your back than standing does, it’s easy to get in the habit of poor sitting posture. Unfortunately, slouching in a chair or on the sofa for too long can put strain on the muscles and ligaments in your back as they become overstretched. You can help prevent many back pain problems and spare yourself some pain by practicing good sitting posture.

Sitting at a computer with jutting head forward to look more closely at the screen compresses the neck and can cause fatigue, headaches, poor concentration, increased muscle tension and can even lead to injury to the vertebrae over time.

Postural dysfunction occurs when the spine is positioned in unnatural positions, which results in the joints, muscles, and vertebrae being in stressful positions. This prolonged poor positioning builds up pressure on these tissues.

SOME MAJOR CAUSES OF BAD POSTURE

Prolonged Sitting

A desk job leads to an incremental increase in the chances of premature death. Sitting long hours can weaken your muscles, and even curve your upper back.

Quick fix: Sit up straight and take small breaks to walk around. This will help rev up the circulation and boost your mood as well.

Driving long hours

Long commutes can lead to hunching over the steering wheel or cause tense muscles from the stress of driving in traffic.

Quick fix: Position yourself closer to the steering wheel so you don’t have to stretch your body in awkward positions while driving.

Using mobile phone excessively

Studies have shown that looking down frequently at your phone promotes a poor posture. It leads to slumping the shoulders forward, which puts a strain on their upper body. Look up from time to time and stretch your back and shoulders.

Quick fix: Try using a hands-free or headphones while talking for greater ease.

Use of heavy bag or purse

Carrying a heavy purse strains your shoulders, back, and could even lead to an altered spine. Ideally, your bag shouldn’t weight any more than 10% of your body weight including all contents inside it.

Quick fix: Choose bags made of light material such as cotton, canvas, cloth, or faux leather to minimize risk.

Wearing the Wrong Shoes

High heels or completely flat shoes not only increase the risk for foot injuries and falls, but also force you to arch your back in an unnatural position. They offer little arch support subsequently changing the body’s center of gravity. This leads to often unknowingly leaning forward while sitting or standing. High heels can degenerate the calf muscles over time.

Quick fix: Replace heeled shoes with something more comfortable such as sneakers.

Lifting Heavy objects

There are systematic ways to lift heavy objects rather than using one’s back for support. Apply ergonomic ways to reduce pressure on back i.e. bending, squatting or using leg muscles.

Quick fix: If you’re having trouble lifting something, ask for help or get professionals to do the same.

Sedentary lifestyle

Staying glued to television for long hours, meager exercise, excess weight, and binge eating during weekends can harm your posture and spinal health. A sedentary life can prove to be toxic and cause inflammation in joints, feeling of heaviness in the body.

Quick fix: Make it a plan to exercise at least three days a week for 30 minutes to an hour. You’ll be surprised at how good you feel!

Improper sleeping habits

Sleeping in the fetal position or on your stomach generally are the primary reasons for postural pain. Your posture and spinal health will tremendously improve when you try to sleep on your back rather than curled up in a ball or on your stomach.

Quick fix: Best sleeping position is on your back followed by on your side.