Look 10 Times Smarter, 10 Pounds Thinner and 10 Years Younger!

Feb. 17, 2011 - PRLog -- You can look 10 times smarter, 10 pounds thinner, and 10 years younger by just standing up straight! It is widely accepted that good posture projects health, vitality, and confidence, while hunching suggests weakness, gloom, and self-doubt.
   Standing up straight exudes a sense of confidence and properly distributes balance to the skeletal structure down from the lower extremities through the pelvis into the upper extremities.  There is an intimate relationship between the structure and function of the musculoskeletal system.  It is safe to say if you are not consciously practicing good posture daily then you are suffering with biomechanical deficiencies that have led or will lead to degenerative arthritic changes in your joints.
   Incorrect posture can cause a lifetime of annoying minor ailments. Muscle spasms in the lower back, compressed nerves or blood vessels, decreased lung capacity, chronic neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder impingements , and headaches to name a few.  This can be avoided and corrected at any time.  However, the longer the cause of the condition persists the greater the damage to the body.  Make a conscious effort starting now to improve the structure and function of your body so you can achieve optimal health and vitality.
Computer Danger
   Working at computers is causing an epidemic of alignment problems. First the head moves forward to see the screen; then the neck cranes toward the front; finally the shoulders round. The muscles in the back become overstretched from being pulled forward by the muscles in the shoulders and chest causing your back to be under constant stress.  This muscular imbalance creates abnormal stresses on healthy joints eventually leading to pain, abnormal movement patterns, and deconditioned muscles.
   When you’re parked in front of a computer, proper posture is crucial to preventing back pain. No matter how much you want to put your feet on the desk or curl up like a pretzel, you’ll avoid a lot of back problems if you simply sit up straight and plant your feet squarely on the floor.
   In some cases — when sitting upright for a week or two hasn’t alleviated the pain — improving your posture may require learning muscle relaxation exercises, stretching moves or other specialized exercise methods which we can recommend based on your biomechanical needs.
Heels and Bags
   Women are particularly susceptible to the aches and pains of poor posture. Many wear high heels, which force the pelvis to tilt forward, arching the back unnaturally to maintain balance. And many suffer from the don’t-leave-home-without-it syndrome, a condition in which they’re determined to carry the contents of a studio apartment in their pocketbooks.
   You should alternate the shoulder on which you carry your bag. Otherwise, over time, one shoulder can become visibly higher than the other. If you insist on carrying heavy loads use a backpack, which balances the weight on both shoulders. These can cause problems if you carry too much, the weight can cause you to arch your back and jut your head forward.
Posturing While You Sleep
   We tend to be most aware of our alignment when we’re sitting or standing. But we shouldn’t forget sleeping posture. People who sleep in a compressed fetal position or on their stomachs stress the lower back and neck. Sleeping on one side can also put pressure on the lower back, because of the way one leg hangs down in front of the other.
   If you sleep on your side, it’s best to sleep with a pillow between your knees. However, the best sleep position of all is on your back, using a cervical pillow that supports your normal neck curvature.
   Clearly posture matters. We may not want to admit it, but our mothers were right when they yelled at us to stand up straight.  Although the effects of poor posture can be serious in terms of health, comfort, and efficiency, many problems can be helped.

The Benefits
   The benefits of correct posture include the following: Improved health; Improved appearance; Improved coordination; Increased strength; More stamina; Clothes fit better; More confidence; Better body balance and More agility; Reduced injuries; and Aid in physical and mental development.
Test Yourself at Home
   Good posture works for the whole family! Use this preliminary self-test to check your posture and your family.
Test 1: Stand with your back to the wall. Place your head, shoulder blades, calves, and heels against the wall. Place your hands at your sides. Flatten the hollow of your back by pressing your buttocks back against the wall. If the space at the back of your waist is greater than the thickness of your hand, your posture is not correct.
Test 2: Face the wall with the palms of your hands on front of your thighs. Move slowly until some part of you touches the wall. If it is your chest, your posture is good. If it is your head, your posture is fair. If your abdomen touches, your posture is poor.
   If you would like more information on improving your posture for better health, you are invited to call Dr. Anthony Rivano, D.C., CCSP, CKTP at (973) 845-6282, email drrivano@rivanochiropractic.com or visit us at http://chiropractorflorhampark.com/chiropractic-blog/ to read more articles.

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Health is more than just the absence of disease or lack of pain; rather it is a realization of your full potential for well-being. When your body is in a state of health, it can adapt & heal and self-regulate.