Why do i have bad posture

When certain muscle groups are weak or tense, your posture can be affected. After a while, you can also develop pain. Muscle weakness or tension can develop when you hold a prolonged position day after day or when you do routine tasks and chores in a way that places tension on your muscles or uses them unequally. A study published in the March issue of Scoliosis Spinal Disorders points out that muscle tension, strength, and flexibility affect posture.

Living an active lifestyle may help you avoid bad posture in the long run. In these situations, your body may be forced to use alternate, but less efficient, patterns of muscle contraction and stretch. Called compensation, the body can still achieve its movement aim, but with comprised alignment. Your use of technology—whether you sit at a computer all day, use a tablet or cell phone, or work with several devices at once—can slowly take your body out of alignment.

This may lead to pain. Do you stress easily or have stressful relationships? If so, watch your posture! Stress may contribute to shallow breathing or overly-contracted muscles, which may compromise your body posture. Clothing, especially shoes, can affect posture. Heels throw your body weight forward, which can easily catapult you into misalignment.

And if you wear down either the outside or inside of the shoes faster—because of things like weight-bearing habits—imbalanced kinetic forces will likely be translated up your ankle, knee, hip, and low back. This may lead to pain or bad posture in any of these joints, as well as your lumbar spine. Sometimes it's just in the genes. For example, Scheuermann's disease is a condition in which adolescent boys develop a pronounced kyphosis in their thoracic spines.

Of course, in cases such as these, it's best to work with your healthcare provider for treatment and management. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

Czaprowski, D. Non-structural misalignments of body posture in the sagittal plane. Scoliosis 13, 6 doi The study of correlation between forward head posture and neck pain in Iranian office workers. Do slumped and upright postures affect stress responses? A randomized tria l. Watch this video to learn more. Poor posture can lead to symptoms such as back and neck pain, joint stiffness, and muscle strains.

If you are affected by any of these conditions, contact the orthopedic experts at OSG. With state-of-the-art facilities and a knowledgeable staff, we have everything you need to manage and eliminate your daily pains. If you live in the Fairfield County area, call us today to schedule an appointment at Many Americans spend a lot of their time sitting - either at work, at school, or at home. It is important to sit properly, and to take frequent breaks:.

Stand up straight and tall Keep your shoulders back Pull your stomach in Put your weight mostly on the balls of your feet Keep your head level Let your arms hang down naturally at your sides Keep your feet about shoulder-width apart With practice, you can improve your posture; you will look and feel better.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Guide to Good Posture. What is posture? Posture is how you hold your body. There are two types: Dynamic posture is how you hold yourself when you are moving, like when you are walking, running, or bending over to pick up something.

Static posture is how you hold yourself when you are not moving, like when you are sitting, standing, or sleeping. It is important to make sure that you have good dynamic and static posture. How can posture affect my health? Poor posture can be bad for your health. Slouching or slumping over can Misalign your musculoskeletal system Wear away at your spine, making it more fragile and prone to injury Cause neck, shoulder, and back pain Decrease your flexibility Affect how well your joints move Affect your balance and increase your risk of falling Make it harder to digest your food Make it harder to breathe How can I improve my posture in general?