To all of you that have heard “stand up straight’ or “don’t slouch” at some point you should check out this great article from the New York Times titled “Good Posture May Better Your Position.”

Besides the physical aspects associated with poor posture such as back ache, headaches and tight or sore muscles, there are additional issues to be aware of that can include fatigue, breathing limitations, digestive problems and even changes in you mood. Proper posture is often overlooked during any given day but needs to be another topic on you daily “to-do” list.

In order to address these issues and improve your posture make sure to change positions frequently throughout the day. That means if you work at a desk during the day, like most of us, get up and go for a walk or even do some light stretching before getting back to your work. Even taking a short 5-10 minute break from sitting can be beneficial. Also, be aware of bad habits when you are sitting for prolonged periods. People often don’t have the most ergonomically correct workstation set-up and even forget about their posture while slouching and sitting on their couch when they get home. At work make sure your computer screen is at eye level, sit all the way back in your chair so the lumbar support can do its job to encourage good sitting posture and your desk or chair height should be at a proper level to allow for your shoulders to be relaxed in order to relieve stress on the neck. As far as the couch, a lot of the same principals at work can apply to time spent binging on your favorite TV show or watching the big game. Another tip to promote good posture on the couch is to yous all of those “decorative” pillows to prop yourself up and support the curves of your spine and neck.

For more tips on posture or to talk about treatment of low back or neck pain you can call us at 610-853-0508 to schedule an appointment with one of our therapists.