How To Fix Improper Posture for Back and Neck Pain Relief
February Newsletter
“Stand up straight!” has been a refrain from parents throughout the ages, but is it really that important? Actually – yes, it is!
Many people assume maintaining proper posture is about appearance: looking tall and confident. In reality, improper posture can cause pain in your neck and upper back and put pressure on your spine, leading to an increased injury risk.
But what exactly is proper posture? It probably won’t surprise you to learn that it’s more complicated than merely standing up straight. Instead, it’s more about finding the right spinal alignment for your body – and that’s something the physical therapists at Kintsugi Physical Therapy and Wellness can help you with!
If you’re struggling with persistent neck or back pain, it may be time to visit us for a postural assessment. We’ll help pinpoint any impairments or imbalances in your spine that might be causing problems and then provide strategies for maintaining your postural alignment throughout the day.
Call us to schedule an appointment for your initial consultation!
Understanding Proper Posture: Movement and Awareness is Key
Let’s get this out of the way first: There’s no universal “ideal posture” that will work for everyone. Even common advice like “stand up straight” isn’t particularly helpful: for one, no one’s spine is ever perfectly straight since it has a natural curve pattern. For another, you don’t spend your entire life standing still.
Rather than aiming for a non-existent “perfect” posture, you want to focus on two things:
Postural Awareness:
Avoid Prolonged Postures:
The Relationship Between Posture and Pain
Neck and back pain have several potential causes and contributing factors. Improper posture is often one of them.
When you lose your postural awareness and start to slouch, it puts extra strain on the muscles that support your spine, particularly the muscles in your neck and upper back. This can lead to overuse injuries that cause pain or restricted mobility.
Remaining in prolonged postures (particularly sitting) also puts extra strain on your back muscles. When you get up and move around – even if it’s just for a few minutes – you relieve that pressure. Staying active also helps strengthen the muscles of your back and core, which helps prevent common musculoskeletal injuries that can cause pain and dysfunction.
Physical Therapy’s Role in Improving Posture
When you visit us for your appointment, here’s what we’ll do to help you improve your posture and reduce your back and neck pain:
We start with a comprehensive postural assessment.
We help with any acute pain.
We help strengthen any weak muscles:
We offer personalized postural corrections:
Start Improving Your Posture Today!
Fixing improper posture isn’t a one-and-done affair, but a visit to Kintsugi Physical Therapy and Wellness can help you get started. Call us to schedule your appointment today!
Sources: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Posture, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4499985/ S0003999321003257
https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-carpal-tunnel-syndrome
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- 2 sweet potatoes, peeled & chopped
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- 1 can diced tomatoes
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- Salt & pepper
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Exercise of the Month
Double Knees To Chest
(Lower Back, Hips)
Start on your back with your knees bent. Slowly bring both knees to your chest. Grasp your knees. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat. 1 Set, 3 Reps
“Both times I received excellent care and therapy.“
“This is my second time using Kintsugi. First for back spasms 4-years ago and hip pain this most recent time. Both times I received excellent care and therapy. Kintsugi staff are the best and I highly recommend them. Jennifer and Roman were very attentive to my needs. Thank you for fixing me.”
