5 Ways Your Posture Is Causing You Pain And How To Avoid It

By Dr. Levent Erdogan

The Center for Chiropractic and Holistic Care

Your mother was right.

You may have shrugged her off when she said your posture was bad, but mom was on to something.

It turns out that looking like a slouch isn’t the only negative effect of bad posture. It can also cause neck and back pain and a laundry list of other health issues.

Stand up straight and take a look at these five mistakes that may be hurting your posture:

1. Sitting at work: We all know the dangers of prolonged sitting at work. Add bad posture to that list.
2. Hauling heavy bags: Carrying that overstuffed purse or bag isn’t helping your posture.
3. Texting or using the phone: Sometimes called “text neck,” the slouch we get when we look down at our phones to browse or text can cause serious problems. Moving your head to the side to talk on the phone may also cause these issues.
4. Bending incorrectly: If you have poor posture or back pain, you may be bending over wrong. When bending forward, hinge from the hips, and always lift with your legs.
5. Stress: If you’ve ever felt your shoulders creep up to your ears during a stressful day at work, this is stress at work in your posture. Release that muscle tension to keep it your back straight.

Other than standing up straight, how do we fix those pesky posture problems? Try these seven simple tips:

• Take a look: Look at your posture in the mirror or have someone take a picture of you standing normally. Compare your image to photos of people with good posture, and you’ll begin to see the differences.
• Get that standing desk: It may seem like the latest craze, but a standing desk allows you to keep that good posture throughout the day and improves your circulation.
• Look up when texting: Try holding your phone at eye level when texting and browsing. This will avoid the effects of text neck.
• Exercise: Moving and stretching often will keep your muscles stimulated and your posture long.
• Breathe: Deep breathing, which is breathing that comes from your diaphragm, requires you to stand up straight. Start the practice of deep breathing just a couple of times a day to trigger you to check your posture.
• Sleep right: Improvements in your own home can help improve your posture. The pillow you use on your bed should be under your head, not your shoulders. It should also be the amount of thickness that places your head in a normal position.
• Visit your chiropractor: Your chiropractor is the best resource for keeping your spine straight and aligned. Making chiropractic routine visits, even when you aren’t in pain, will keep your back healthy and your posture on point.