Proper Posture Prevents Problems

by Dr. Brett L. Lukert, DC

Proper posture is one of those often overlooked contributors to good health. It’s easy to question how much difference sitting up straight in a chair or having proper head-to-toe alignment can really make in preventing muscle strain. As common as poor posture is, a guess would be that most people don’t think it’s too important.

There are many employees who have an office job with long hours every week. It’s not uncommon for people to be at their desk for 8-to-10 hours a day. Longer days mean more stress and more strain, especially if the majority of that time is spent slouching at a desk. If this is the case, it will not be a matter of IF, but WHEN, employees will develop back and neck pain.

These people tend to have rounded shoulders, a “hunchback” and, consequently, back pain. They also tend to with present anterior head carriage, in which the head sits anterior to where it should be over the shoulders. This causes the upper back muscles to work harder and support more weight than they are designed to, initiating the strain and pain in the upper back.

The good news is these people usually respond very well to care. Once the structural misalignments are corrected and the supporting musculature is rehabilitated, the person will feel much better. This isn’t where treatment stops, however. We must also address the postural stress that caused these biomechanical symptoms to begin with. If the person is not willing to make necessary ergonomic changes and goes right back to work with the same slumping habits that originally got him into trouble, he can expect his symptoms to return.

This is why it’s so important to develop and maintain proper posture and ergonomics at all times, even when we are doing well, not just when we have pain or feel tight. This is one of the important factors that help our employees to be healthy, live healthy and stay healthy!