Poor Posture and How to Correct

Forgetfulness--

Let's face it, the main reason most people cannot maintain good posture is forgetfulness. Unless someone is in pain and is able to use that as their reminder, people just do not think of it often enough.

SOLUTION:
Use a Reminder--Pick something that you think of regularly during the day--your spouse, your children, driving, every time the phone rings--and use that as your "alarm clock" to remind yourself to correct your posture. The more often good posture is practiced, the easier it is to maintain, the more natural and comfortable it feels--and it makes up for the times which you forget.

Lack of Understanding--

Most people do not truly have a thorough understanding of proper postural positioning. They view it as a "military-style" posture by thrusting their shoulders back, or straighten up through their mid-back and forget the head and neck..

SOLUTION:
Use Your Pelvis and Abdominals-There are two keys to proper posture--enough mobility through the pelvis, and a good idea of what to tighten through the abdominals. Start by sitting up straight in a chair with your feet planted or lying on your back on the floor with your knees bent. Place your hands on your hips so you can monitor hip motion, then start by tilting your hips forward like you are arching your back, and hold for 3 seconds. Then tilt them back and up by pulling up on your deep abdominal muscles and hold for 3 seconds. Do this 5 or 10 times, then find what is roughly midway between both stopping points. This is where you want to be. If you think about your deepest abdominal muscles holding this position, you will not only find it easier to maintain, but an almost automatic tension reliever.

Work--

Whether the job is at a desk, performing manual labor, traveling long distances, or performing surgery, it all takes its toll on our bodies. We have a tendency to tighten up into positions which we are regularly in and this eventually causes a breakdown somewhere along that chain.

SOLUTION:
Change Your Ergonomics--Both physically and structurally. Physically by modifying your work environment to be more movement friendly, and structurally by the way the tasks are performed. Whatever the job is that you do, you need to think of putting yourself in the optimal position to perform the task. Desk and keyboard height, repetitious tasks, and heavy lifting all need to be evaluated to make sure that the work station and environment do not predispose or exacerbate injuries.

Deconditioned--

With today's hectic world and pace, people have been finding it increasingly difficult to maintain some form of regular exercise. This not only prevents the release of the much needed stress-relieving endorphins, but it also contributes to weakening of the muscles, bones and joints of the body and reducing the amount of good synovial fluid into the intervertebral discs.

SOLUTION:
Exercise--You are only as good in your personal and professional life as you feel. When the body does not get some form of regular exercise or activity, things just do not work as well. You never let your car go much more then a few days without running it, so why should you think that the body is any different. Any combination of home exercise programs, pool workouts, outdoor exercise, gym routines, yoga, or Pilates will work. Just make it consistent.

Anatomical--

Some of us are born with, develop, or acquire physical conditions which make what would be considered good posture extremely difficult.

SOLUTION:
Treatment--There are a number of different quality practitioners such as physical therapists, physiatrists, and chiropractors, which can help to treat individual conditions. If the system is not functioning properly, forcing it will not help. The longer people wait to seek treatment or do not maintain their recommended routine, then the worse the condition will get.