Tips for Good Posture
Many of us have heard at one time or another to “sit up straight” and “don’t slouch.” There is a good reason for that advice, as it turns out. Not only does good posture make you appear taller, there are also health benefits to sitting up straight and walking with your shoulders back.
Posture is the alignment and positioning of the body, and good posture means distributing your weight evenly throughout the whole body so that none of the joints are more stressed than others. Ideally, the spine should have a natural S-shape curve from a side view.
“Try keeping your head even with your shoulders, not too forward or off to the side,” says Dr. Timothy C. Watson, spine surgeon at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics. “This will help you maintain good posture because it all starts at the neck.”
Additional benefits from good posture:
- Reduces the chance of back or neck pain.
- Less wear on the bones, which leads to a reduced risk of arthritis.
- More efficient use of muscles, which uses less energy and causes less fatigue.
- Less problematic pregnancies and labor for women.
Are you experiencing back and neck pain? Contact the spine doctors at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics by calling (877) 666-6080 to schedule an appointment.