Everyone has heard the phrase, “Stand up straight!” at some point in their life. While we may have let this advice go in one ear and out the other, it really is something to take to heart when it comes to our overall health and wellbeing.  However, good posture is much more than just standing up straight for a better appearance. Good posture is essential for our entire body since it can prevent pain, injuries, and other health problems. Bozeman chiropractor Dr. Cary Gentry can help you on your way to gaining and maintaining better posture and improved overall health!

What Is Posture?

Posture is the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting. There are two types of posture, dynamic and static. Dynamic posture is how you hold your body while you’re moving, whether while walking, exercising, or bending. Static posture is how you hold your body when you’re stationary, such as sitting, sleeping, or standing still. Both types of posture are important to ensure you maintain the natural curves of your back, which are present in a healthy spine. Correct posture should maintain these curves but not increase them. Your head should be positioned above your shoulders, and the top of your shoulders should be over your hips. Without proper training, it’s hard to identify bad posture habits in ourselves. Dr. Cary Gentry at Waypoint Chiropractic can help you identify any less than ideal posture habits that may be causing misalignments in your spine or other health issues.

How Can Bad Posture Affect My Health?

Bad posture can lead to complications in many areas of your health. Slouching or slumping can misalign the spine, causing pain in the neck, shoulders, or back. When posture is lacking, it can affect flexibility, balance, and how well the joints move. It can also make it harder to breathe and digest food when posture is off. Everyday activities such as looking down at a cell phone for a long period of time or sleeping in an awkward position can cause put a great strain on the spine, causing tense muscles and stiffness.  Over time, poor posture can cause wear and tear on muscles, ligaments, and joints.

How Can Chiropractic Help with Posture?

There are a few things you can do every day to improve your posture. You should be mindful of how you’re performing your everyday activities, maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, and wear supportive shoes. Since many people spend a lot of time sitting, it’s important to sit up straight, keep your shoulders back, stretch, and take breaks frequently. Seeing a Gallatin County chiropractor can help identify any misalignments in your spine that may be contributing to your bad posture habits or other health concerns. By gently adjusting the spine and removing any misalignments, your muscles can begin to relax and your posture will improve, resulting in better overall health and wellbeing.

Whether you want to improve pain from poor posture or prevent problems in the future, Dr. Cary Gentry at Waypoint Chiropractic is ready to help you on your way to greater health and wellness! Contact us today and explore all the benefits chiropractic has to offer!

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Sources

Morningstar, M.W., Pettibon, B.R., Schlappi, H., Schlappi,M., Ireland, T.V. “Reflex control of the spine and posture: a review of theliterature from a chiropractic perspective.” Chiropractic & Osteopathy,2005 Aug 9; 13:16. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16091134.

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