The Ultimate Guide To Good Posture

If you work in an office or at home, chances are the majority of your time will be spent in front of a computer, typing away. This lifestyle can wreak havoc on your health due to people not thinking about their posture. Most people do not think about it and end up regretting it somewhere down the line when its too late.

To prevent aches, pains and health problems in the future, its extremely important to maintain a good posture. Adoption of a good posture can be hard, but perseverance will slowly make it a natural thing to do.

People come in all different shapes and sizes, and so do office chairs. Having access to a chair that suits your size is extremely important. A decent sized chair for an individual should allow your feet to be placed firmly on the floor while keeping your knees level with your hips.

The next thing you should check your chair has armrests. Spending a lot of time at the computer without resting your forearms can cause a lot of discomfort before you know it.

Also, be sure to check that your chair back is high enough to support your whole back.

Below is The Ultimate Guide to Good Posture by Greatist.com

Infographic Transcript: The Ultimate Guide to Good Posture

Posture is about far more than looking confident and poised. Sitting or standing in the right position makes sure our bodies function properly. Here we look at posture and how you can improve yours starting today.

Is It Really That Bad?

Just what's so terrible about having poor posture, besides not looking as sharp as you could? Quite a bit, as it runs out.

Bad Circulation

When you slouch or slump, so does your spine, which can affect circulation. This can cause vertebrae to deteriorate over time.

Chronic Fatigue

Moving your body with poor posture is taxing on your muscles and joints. Coupled with the circulation issues poor posture can cause, the result can be earlier exhaustion in many cases.

Chronic Back, Neck & Shoulder Pain

✓ A neutral position relaxes the body.

✘ A bad position puts strain on the body.

Shoulders and neck are also affected, resulting in headaches and other pains
50% of working Americans suffer from back pain, and it is the second most common reason for doctor visits

Other Potential Issues

25% of those with back pain suffer from a herniated disc, which may be caused by poor posture
The wrong posture can cause misalignment in your body, which can negatively affect the muscles and bones
This, in turn, can change the way you move and can even limit your range of motion

What Causes Bad Posture?

Bad posture isn't always a sign of laziness.

As a nation, weight issues are becoming more common, and weight gain changes how our skeleton and muscles support themselves.

We also tend to be less active, which can lead to increased risk for disease.

Unsupportive shoes
Genetics
Stress
Accidents or injuries
Being overweight
Foot problems
Low self-esteem
Poor lumbar support while seated
Unsupportive mattress
Weak muscles
Chairs that are too high or too low
Hunching to get closer to a screen

The Vicious Cycle

Poor Posture > Back Pain > Worse Posture > More Pain

Great Posture In Every Position

Understanding good posture can help you realign your body the right way.

Here's a quick test to check your posture

Stand with the back of your head against a wall
Please heel 6 inches from the wall. Your buttocks and shoulder blades should touch the wall

There should be less than 2 inches between your neck or small of the back and wall.

A larger gap indicates bad posture and a curving spine.

Sitting

DO:

Keep your head straight and not tilted up or down
Keep your shoulders back and try to relax
Sit with your knees slightly lower than your hips
Keep your feet flat on the floor

DONT:

Try to keep your back ramrod straight
Work without support for your arms
Tuck feet under the chair
Cross your legs above the knees, as this may cause poor circulation

Standing

DO:

Keep your shoulders back and aligned
Use your stomach muscles to keep your body straighter
Slightly bend your knees to ease pressure on the hips
Use quality shoes that offer good support

DON'T:

Stick your chest out. Instead, try to keep your chest perpendicular to the ground
Stand in the same position for long periods of time. Move around and shift your weight
Wear high heels when standing for long periods of time

Walking

DO:

Keep your chin parallel to the ground
Hit the ground with your heel first, and then roll onto the toe
Keep your stomach and buttocks in line with the rest of the body

DON'T:

Look down at your feet. Instead, look several feet ahead of you
Arch your back

Running

DO:

Keep your head up and looking forward
Keep your arms loose and elbows at 90° angle
Lean forward slightly
Hit the ground with the midpoint of your foot and roll it forward to the toe

DON'T:

Hunch your shoulders
Bend at the waist
Lift your knees too high. Go with what feels natural

Sleeping

DO:

Use a firm mattress that provides support
Minimize spinal curves by using pillows s necessary or upgrading your mattress
Stretch before bed to ease tense muscles

DON'T:

Sleep on your stomach. It can cause pressure on the cervical spine (vertebrae in the neck)
Sleep with a tall stack of pillows that causes your neck to bend unnaturally