This may sound crazy, but the majority of people are unable to sit and stand in a straight position! Many of us remember our parents and instructors reminding us as teenagers that excellent posture was the key to good health later in life.
We all rolled our eyes at the time since the demand seemed obnoxious. However, as we become older, we realize that proper posture is about more than just appearances and confidence.
Back discomfort can be reduced by sitting and standing with excellent spinal alignment.
Physiotherapists are excellent at teaching patients how to maintain proper posture. Your physiotherapist may be able to assist you understand what it means and provide you with the education you need to ensure that you have good posture every day.
To arrange an appointment with a physiotherapist, contact For Health’s Sake in Leslieville or in Downtown Toronto today!
How can improving my posture relieve my back pain?
Your spine is designed to function in a particular way. You can end up causing long-term issues each time you move, sit, or stand in ways that disturb the correct location and function of your spine.
Practicing good posture is one way you can work to alleviate back pain with the aid of a licensed physiotherapist.
You can learn how to develop good posture when you start physiotherapy. PT can help you discover when you are not practicing good posture and develop more safe movement habits that will help alleviate your back pain.
Benefits of physiotherapy strategies for improving posture
Some physiotherapists employ several strategies to help you prevent back pain by developing a healthy posture. The benefits of these strategies are vast, and we’ve listed a few below!
1. Improved strength and flexibility
If you haven’t had good posture for a long period of time anyways, it’s probably to assume that learning to maintain it isn’t going to be the easiest thing to do.
It might take time in physiotherapy to gain the strength and flexibility you need to keep ideal posture and spinal alignment. According to the Mayo Clinic, “correct posture can boost your productivity and mood, as well as help you use your muscles more efficiently.”
The work you do and the effort you put in with your physiotherapist to achieve your goal can lead to greater overall fitness. The more flexible you get, the stronger you’ll be, and the less likely you are to suffer from nagging back pain every day.
2. Better blood flow and circulation
Your veins will be less restricted by pressure on your vertebrae if you maintain good spinal alignment. Many components of your spine rely on good circulation to function properly and to recover from regular wear and tear.
It might seem like a daunting task, but as your physiotherapist guides you through the different physiotherapy exercises and techniques that help with maintaining good posture, you’ll may be able to improve at keeping the alignment required for proper circulation.
3. You can learn to properly lift things
If you constantly lift heavy objects, you definitely need to make sure you have good posture! Ask your physiotherapist how to maintain proper posture while lifting. They know how to teach you to properly lift things, and also guide you through exercises to hold the right posture.
Good posture is a critical component of lifting objects without hurting yourself. If you lift and fail to use good posture, there is a much higher risk that you will hurt your back.
4. Discovering proper posture for everyday tasks
In physiotherapy, your therapist may teach you how to maintain good posture during sports and everyday activities such as running or walking.
Improving your overall posture will lessen the wear and tear you put on your spine every day. This will also minimize your risk of developing back pain from these activities.
Most of the time when we hear the term “good posture” we think of how we sit or stand, but good posture is important in everything we do!
5. Decreasing risk of anatomical changes
Did you know that the ways in which you use your spine can actually cause changes in your anatomy? It’s true.
Excessive tension from sitting slumped over can harm your spinal discs, muscles, joints, as well as the nerves and blood vessels that run through your spine.
Fortunately, most postural damage can be remedied with physiotherapy. Your body can learn to sit and stand appropriately with targeted workouts and stretches.
Contact us to get started on the path toward relief!
Chances are if you suffer from back pain, it may be the product of bad posture.
To get set up for an appointment with one of our certified physiotherapists, contact For Health’s Sake in Leslieville or in Downtown Toronto’s physiotherapy office today!