It is often said that a bad posture can be detrimental to your overall health, but have you ever wondered why? Posture is the way you carry your body and the position of the spine while you sit, stand, walk and lay down. So why is the way I carry my body so important? And what adverse effects can bad posture have on my health?
Bad posture is a problem that is rampant in today’s sedentary lifestyle, and while it is easy to spot someone else’s slouched shoulders and hunched back, we often end up neglecting our own posture and only realize it when it’s too late.
So, what is it that makes a posture “good?.”
A good posture indicates the right alignment of your body whenever you sit or stand. It involves training your body to hold itself against gravity with the least amount of tension on your body structure like the muscles and ligaments. A good posture keeps your bone and joint health at their optimal, and decreases the wear and tear of your body’s supportive structures.
nastya_gepp/Pixabay. A bad posture is the biggest culprit behind neck and back pain.
The biggest cause of stiff neck and back pain is bad posture. As you work on improving your posture, you will see surprising benefits in your overall health, with a considerable decrease in your neck and back pain. Here are some more health benefits of having a good posture.
Improved Digestion
Stooping, slouching, and hunching over can all cause indigestion. As you stoop down while sitting or standing, it creates an adverse impact on your abdominal organs. This could result in indigestion, heartburn, acid reflux, and also constipation. Sitting up straight can have an instantly positive impact on your digestion.
Scott Webb/Unsplash. The right alignment increases bone and joint strength.
Better Joint And Muscle Function
As you develop a good posture, you will notice that your muscle and joint health has improved too. This is because an improper posture puts your body under a lot of stress and wear and tear. In fact, it is one of the most common causes of ‘wear and tear’ arthritis. Keeping your body in alignment reduces overall stress and fatigue on your muscles and helps keep them well-lubricated for optimal movement.
Pexels/Pixabay. Good posture boosts confidence and improves mood.
Good Posture Can Improve Overall Mood
When we talk about conventional mood boosters, having good posture usually doesn’t make it to the list, but our bodies and brains are connected through the spine, and a good posture can help put you in a good mood. You must have noticed that when you feel happy, you tend to sit straighter and walk with more confidence and so, it is a two-way street where both have an effect on each other.
