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Do you spend a lot of time sitting at your desk? Driving in your car? Working at a computer? Holding your child? Standing? Think back to primary school when you would proudly sit cross legged on the mat with your arms across your chest and back in a strong upright position.
Now bring yourself back to today.
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What kind of position are you in at the moment – are you always in this position?
Poor posture can result in a range of complaints – I see it all the time. Stiff necks, backache, headaches, poor breathing patterns, anxiety and hunched shoulders - to name a few – can result from poor posture.
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What is posture?
Posture is the position in which you hold your body upright against gravity while standing, moving, sitting or lying down.
What is good posture?
Good posture is simply the neutral resting position of all of our spinal joints. It is where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments when you stand, sit, lie or move.
Whether it be activities in daily living (cooking, cleaning, vacuuming, working) or during exercise, the better your posture, the better your movements will be. Not only will good posture boost your appearance, it will decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that could result in arthritis and other stresses throughout your body. It will prevent strains, over-use problems, backache and muscular pain. Good posture will promote proper and efficient breathing patterns and also prevent fatigue as muscles will be used more effectively, allowing the body to use less energy.
Proper posture requirements:
* Muscle flexibility
* Normal joint range of motion
* Postural muscle activation and strength
* Muscle balance
Awareness of your own posture, plus awareness of proper posture will lead to a conscious correction. With practice, a correct posture can gradually replace your old posture.
It is worth taking time to give yourself a quick postural check. If you notice any problems, book yourself in for a postural and muscular balance assessment at the Exercise Room. Your body must be trained to handle the external loads that life presents, as well as the intrinsic loads of the body itself, such as the weight of the shoulder girdle on the torso. Your body will thank you for it!
© Karina Balle 2008
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