If you suffer from sciatica, you know the pain can be debilitating and keep you from enjoying life. But, did you know that if you’re overweight or obese that the excess weight can intensify your sciatica pain? Read on to learn more.
Bad posture is a common problem among Americans today. Because people spend so much time sitting at desks, in front of computers, or looking down into smartphones, they’re at an increased risk for developing bad posture.
In fact, at a time when about 80% of Americans deal with back pain at some point in their lives, poor posture is often to blame.
If bad posture is left untreated, it can bring about a number of serious health concerns, like:
Bad posture, along with other factors like obesity and psychological distress, can both cause and exacerbate back pain. Maintaining proper back health is important as back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide.
Poor posture can actually lead to stress incontinence, leaking small amounts of urine when you laugh or cough, over time. This happens because when you slouch, you place pressure on your abdomen and subsequently your bladder, weakening your pelvic floor muscles.
When you maintain a slouched position after a meal, you risk triggering heartburn, the more common name for acid reflux, which develops when stomach acids flow back up into your esophagus.
Slouching places pressure on your abdomen, forcing your stomach acid in the wrong direction and potentially even slowing down intestinal activity.
Maintaining proper posture is as simple as making a few adjustments and remembering a few simple tricks. It’s also helpful to stay physically active and to maintain abdominal strength, which promotes and maintains good posture.
One helpful trick is to imagine that you’re a doll with a string being pulled tight as it runs through your back. By doing this, you’re trying to keep your back as long and as straight as possible.
Place your phone directly in front of your face rather than down in your lap. Constantly bending your neck down puts extra pressure on your neck muscles, as well as taking it out of proper alignment.
Staying in the same cramped position for extended periods of time is seriously damaging to your spinal health. So it’s best to change your position as frequently as possible. Our bodies were made to move, and often!
Carrying tension in your back and neck can lock your body in an unnatural position and upset your alignment. Try to practice relaxation techniques or a few simple yoga moves throughout the day.
When you breathe from your abdomen, you activate your abdominal muscles, which helps maintain strength. Standing up straight and placing your hands on your belly while inhaling through your nose slowly is a great exercise to help you get started.
For more information about maintaining good posture and spinal alignment, call us at Chiropractic Health Care Center of Glendora today or send us a message here on our website to make an appointment today.
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