Beyond making us look bad and causing back pain or headaches, poor posture can lead to more chronic and long-lasting problems such as chronic fatigue, herniated discs and poor body alignment. There are many causes of poor posture but, luckily, they all have a solution as long as you pay enough attention to them: being overweight, poor muscle tone or incorrect position when sitting for a long time or walking, can be solved if we have the will to do so.
A stable aesthetic posture is one that keeps the body aligned and stable with the least possible expenditure of energy. To achieve this, it is very important to ensure that the spine remains without any lateral deviation and that it does not hunch over either in its upper part causing what we all know as “hump”, or in its lower part “sticking out tail”.
A sedentary lifestyle, prolonged use of electronic devices or poor lying position, among others, can cause us to have a bad posture without us being aware of it. Luckily, there are some tips that can be very helpful to start improving your posture right now. Although the changes are noticeable over time, it is one of the best things you can offer your body.
Looking in the mirror
It is very helpful to stand in front of a full-length mirror while correcting posture. If you’re ready, keep in mind that you should distribute your weight evenly on both feet, throwing your shoulders back so that they remain level. You’ll know you’ve adopted the correct posture when you draw an imaginary straight line that goes down the back of your ear, over your shoulder, behind your hips and knees, and through your ankle.
Leaning against the wall
Another simple way to adopt a correct posture is to rest your back and buttocks against the wall. To find out if you have good posture, you simply have to slide your hand between your hip and the wall. If your hand doesn’t fit in or is tight, this indicates that your posture is too far to the right. If, on the other hand, there is a lot of space, it indicates that he has posture problems.
When sitting
Check that your back is straight, your shoulders back and down, and the soles of your feet resting in the dream. Remember that it is not good to cross your legs for a long time, as this can obstruct circulation and cause swollen legs or varicose veins.
When you’re standing
The chest should be upwards and the abdomen should be activated, as the abdominal muscles are what help us stay stabilized. The weight of the body should be distributed between the two legs and the knees should be slightly bent.
When walking
The head should be kept raised and the neck upright. You should avoid looking at the ground for a long time, as this can cause neck pain. Make sure to step with the heel of your foot first and then move to the toe.
When sleeping
The best position to sleep well is on your side and with your legs slightly tucked in. This position helps to keep the spine aligned in the most correct way and facilitates breathing, avoiding annoying snoring.
Sitting on the edge of a chair
To maintain perfect posture, especially when attending a job interview, many experts recommend sitting on the edge of the chair so that your back stays straight and you can’t recline relaxed with the back of the chair. To maintain balance with this good posture, one foot should be tucked under the chair and the other should be extended in front.
Exercise
Exercises are key to stretching the muscles and keeping them in optimal condition, which is important to maintain good posture. It is recommended to walk, run, swim or do stretching exercises, among others, always taking care of the posture. Likewise, it is very important that people who sit for a long time take a break to stretch their muscles and check good posture. The same should be done by those people who have to stand for a long time.
Source: Better with Health
