Back pain is among the most common reasons that our patients visit us. Upper back pain, mid back pain, lower back pain – the full gamut. If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms on a frequent basis, you’ll need to seek treatment eventually. It’s just that hard to deal with.
One of the first things we’ll talk to you about when you come to use for back pain treatment is your posture. Learning good posture is not only the first step to helping you find relief, but it can prevent you from having back pain in the first place.
With that in mind, here are 3 tips to give you a head start on improving your posture. You’re going to notice a trend as we get straight to the point.
Stand Up Straight
It’s hard not to slouch when you’ve probably been doing it for years. What you need to do is learn what standing up straight feels like and remember that feeling. That way you’ll know whenever you slip back into a slouching stance.
Here’s an easy way to stand straight:
- Put your back to a wall
- Your shoulders and buttocks should be touching the wall
- If the back of your head isn’t also touching the wall, your back isn’t straight
Sit Down Straight
This one is important because you’re even more likely to slouch while seated, and most of us sit a lot. We sit in the car. We sit at a desk at work. We sit on the couch at home. You need to make sure you’re doing it right.
For proper seated posture:
- Sit with your back against the seat back, not leaning or hunched forward
- Your knees should be even with your hips or slightly higher
- Your feet should be flat on the ground
If you can’t satisfy these conditions, try adjusting your chair or getting one that fits you better. Also avoid putting your monitor at an odd angle if you use a computer.
Look Straight Ahead While Walking
Our bodies have an uncanny ability to follow our line of sight. It’s why coaches tell players to look the ball into their hands when learning to catch. You can learn better posture in a similar way.
If you keep your eyes pointed straight ahead while walking, your head and neck should remain in the proper position. If you’re looking down at the ground, your head will follow forward, and soon your shoulders and back will follow. It might be enough for you to notice, but it can be enough to matter. Look straight ahead and keep everything else in good position, too.
You can read up on additional tips for good posture on Spine-Health.com, but the best way to get relief is to visit a professional at our clinic.
Dynamic Health is staffed by some of the brightest minds in our field, and we proudly serve the Carolinas from our location in Charlotte. If you’re ready to stop living in pain, call us today.