Five top tips to help improve your posture….
Posture. That one little word can have such a huge effect on your daily wellbeing and overall health. Many of my chiropractic care clients come to me from all over Torbay with back pain, sore necks, joint pain and other troubling musculoskeletal issues, all of which have been improved with a little posture work.
If you’re not sure about the basic ingredients for good posture, I urge you to read on. I’ve got some great tips that can make a big difference once they become habitual. They’ve certainly revolutionised my clients’ attitude towards the importance of posture. Let’s improve your posture!
Straighten up
Next time you’re sitting down at a desk or table, try to straighten your back and drop your shoulders. Most people’s natural inclination is to slump as they sit, so try setting an alarm on your phone or clock to go off every ten minutes. You may be surprised at how far you’ve slumped after such a short period.
And, over time, you’ll find that this straightening discipline starts to become habitual, paving the way for a great posture in years to come.
Check your bags
Do you carry a heavy handbag or a weighty laptop bag? If your schedule demands bags of equipment, it’s important to try to distribute this weight evenly, else the pressure of leaning to one side (or even compensating by leaning the other way) can put huge strain on your spine, leading to dreadful back pain.
If you carry your bag over your shoulder, try switching sides at regular intervals. Or, even better, invest in a backpack with two straps to spread the weight across your back.
Channel your inner child
You can have some fun while improving your posture: lie down on the floor and make ‘snow angels’, a long-standing kids’ favourite. You can do this by lying straight as a board then moving your arms and legs out to their fullest range.
But a word of warning: please perform this exercise slowly and steadily, and stop if you feel any pain, whatsoever. Over time, your range of movement should improve but there’s no rush. If you do feel pain doing this exercise, it’s wise to seek chiropractic care to find out could be causing it.
Keep moving
If you spend a lot of time sitting down, this is the most important posture tip. You need to open up your muscles and explore your range of motion at regular intervals. The aim is to get up and move around at least once every half hour: stretching, walking or just standing for a while if you have limited options.
This is especially important if you work in an office all day. Have a cup of tea, pop some files over to accounts or just stand up to read some paperwork. It all counts!
Love your core
There are so many great exercises for strengthening your core which, in turn, will lead to much better posture. I often recommend yoga or pilates to my clients, as the benefits of core-strengthening exercises go far beyond just good posture. A solid core is a key part of your overall health, so it’s worth investing a little time and effort.
Every little helps
When it comes to posture, even the smallest changes can go a long way. So work the tips above into your daily routine and you’ll soon see the benefits. And if you have any concerns about your posture, please do give my clinic in Torbay a ring on 01803 329799 and we’ll get you booked in for an appointment.