What Are the Health Complications Related to Bad Posture Awareness

As you age, bad habits like slouching and inactivity can lead to muscle fatigue and tension. This ultimately causes poor posture. If you're wondering what good spinal health looks like, look at a young child. You'll see how their back shows a smooth S curve, allowing for easy and effortless movements. Stop ignoring your rounded shoulders, potbelly, or bent knees when standing or walking. Besides the body aches and pains, there are health complications related to bad posture. These include:

• Shoulder and Back Pain

  • Bad posture contributes to shoulder pain. This occurs when your rotator cuff presses on the different bony and ligamentous structures of your shoulder. As a result, you experience discomfort when you move or lie on the side of your affected shoulder. Similarly, bad posture can also lead to unhealthy tightness and lower back pain. This occurs due to bad posture, causing your lumbar muscles to shorten and contract. 

• It Impacts Breathing Efficacy

  • Your diaphragm requires enough space in the thoracic cavity for you to breathe correctly. When your body is in proper alignment, you boost your ability to breathe optimally. Bad posture and spinal misalignment can affect the appropriate release and contraction of your diaphragm, compromising your ability to breathe well. Breathing efficacy is crucial because your body requires oxygen to restore and rejuvenate your cells. 

• It Exacerbates Arthritis

  • Bad posture can result in misalignment of your spine, increasing stress on your knees. This can be especially detrimental if you have arthritis in the knees. 

• It Contributes to Poor Blood Circulation

  • Sitting in a chair for hours on end each day with bad posture increases your risk of developing or worsening blood flow problems. Inactivity with poor posture prevents your body from getting the circulation it needs. 

• It Affects Mood and Energy Level

  • Studies show that bad posture can negatively impact your mood. Scientists concluded that having an upright posture can increase positive affect and reduce fatigue. The subjects who sat upright reported a higher level of self-esteem and alertness and better mood than those who slouched. Furthermore, bad posture adds tension and compression to your bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles in your body that weren't supposed to bear weight. These stresses and strains eventually build up, wearing down your support structures and affecting your energy level. It also causes you to fatigue more quickly. 

Headaches, jaw pain, and forward head posture are other health concerns that have been linked to bad posture. Some studies also suggest that it can cause heartburn, acid reflux, constipation, and incontinence. 

Do you want to avoid putting more stress and strain on your muscles and joints? At The Spine Clinic, our qualified chiropractors can help address your chronic pain by improving how you hold your body and move around. Learn more about our chiropractic techniques and other treatment modalities to help improve your quality of life. Call our office today in Salem, Oregon at (503) 362-5555 to schedule your initial appointment.