The pleasure of posture awareness

By Julie Duck

Maybe it is a childhood thing to slouch. Or simple laziness on the part of anyone, young or old, who finds themselves slumped in their seat. However you look at it, good posture plays an important role in overall wellness, including spine health. When your patient is not standing up straight, it is time to educate him on the reasons why he should, and guide him toward simple solutions to help raise his posture awareness.

The slump
Have you ever been told to sit up straight or stop slouching? There is more to it than manners, because good posture helps the body to stay in alignment, and contributes to everything from walking and running, to sitting and sleeping. Unfortunately, bad habits can lead to poor posture, and subsequent problems with the back, shoulders and neck.

Where does bad posture begin? It starts with being unaware of the body’s position. Slouching is simple and easy to revert to unless one is paying attention to their posture. Additionally, people with depression, spinal issues and those who are obese are at greater risk for poor posture because they tend to hunch down. Have you ever tried to “hide” yourself with a slouch?

To help your patients become more aware of their posture, point out the little things – the everyday occurrences – that can contribute to slouching, and show them how little changes can make big differences in their posture.

Bag the bag
Some of the biggest contributors to bad posture are the millions of heavy briefcases, handbags and backpacks that are lugged around by men, women and children every day. Stuffed to the gills, and generally oversized for fashion reasons, many of today’s bags are just too big to carry and get away with it. Slinging heavy objects, such as an overloaded backpack or humongous purse, over one’s shoulders puts a disproportionate amount of weight across one side of the body, leading to slumping shoulders, hunched backs and strain. The result is painfully poor posture.

Ideally, the weight of any backpack, bag or briefcase should be dispersed via two straps, but because most purses and messenger bags are not made that way, the next best thing is a bag with a wide, padded shoulder strap that allows one to pull it over the head and sling it across the body. There are several ergonomically correct bags available on the market that address the issue of posture, of which you can provide to patients who need to put more effort into their awareness. Or, suggest that the patient carry only what they need for the day in their bag, instead of the whole kit and caboodle, to promote good posture habits.

The super six-pack
Core strength can make a difference when it comes to bad posture and back pain. Without strong abdominal muscles, the back becomes weak and unable to optimally support the spine. Additionally, the muscles that reside closer and deeper to the spine have a greater overall effect on posture and, subsequently, a healthy back. By exercising on a regular basis, the stomach muscles can become strong, holding the spine correctly and allowing for naturally good posture. This knowledge alone, however, might not be the trick to getting your patients to do their crunches.

Let them know that good posture that is supported by regular exercise, can contribute to a more slender-looking body and reduce the appearance of a potbelly. This alone could motivate many patients who want to appear slimmer to stand up straight.

Healthy posture, healthy spine
Of paramount importance is spine health. Poor posture can be the culprit for spinal pain and problems with the shoulders and neck, as well as contribute to the worsening of pain that is already present. And because many people spend large chunks of time at their desks, slouching in their chairs, or performing repetitive lifting without good form, there is quite a bit of back pain all around. For these patients, teaching them about the benefits of good posture can help them to begin to utilize posture awareness to prevent possible future injury and additional pain. By simply keeping a neutral spine, your patients may finally realize just how superior good posture can feel