| Poor Posture Contributing to Back Pain, Neck Pain | | | | Try to avoid slouching with your shoulders |
| and General Fatigue. | | | | hunched as you work at the computer, carry |
| According to the British Chiropractic Association | | | | heavy objects in two hands in front of you rather |
| 32% of the population spends more than 10 | | | | than on one side of the body, do not cradle your |
| hours per day sitting. It has been found from | | | | mobile phone between your neck and shoulder |
| research that the 90 degree sitting position | | | | and try to avoid wearing high heeled shoes. |
| causes greater spinal disc movement than any | | | | Take a good look at your office and in car |
| other sitting position. Without careful thought and | | | | seating. Ensure that it has sufficient lumbar |
| an understanding of how to maintain good posture | | | | support. If it does not then purchase a lumbar |
| throughout the day, whether at work or at | | | | back support; memory foam products are very |
| home, illness can result caused by muscular, disc | | | | effective as they mould to shape to your body, |
| and joint disorders and constriction of blood | | | | as if made especially for you. Ensure that the |
| vessels and nerves, all of which can contribute to | | | | sitting angle is correct so that pressure on the |
| back and neck pain, as well as headaches and | | | | lower back is reduced. Seat wedges, in particular |
| fatigue. | | | | the coccyx cut out seat wedge, can help to |
| How can we examine whether we have good | | | | relieve the pressure on the lower back and back |
| posture? | | | | pain whilst sitting. Also do not sit for too long in |
| One method is to simply stand in front of a full | | | | one position, take a break and walk around the |
| length mirror and check that your head is straight, | | | | office, to stretch muscles and ensure they do not |
| your shoulders are level, your hips are level, your | | | | become over tense. |
| kneecaps face the front and your ankles are | | | | If you feel you have poor posture then it is time |
| straight. Then look at yourself from the side and | | | | to exercise the weakened part of the body to |
| check that, your head is straight rather than | | | | rebuild muscle strength so that it supports your |
| slumped forwards or backwards, your chin is | | | | skeletal structure effectively. |
| parallel to the floor, your shoulders are in line with | | | | Visit a physiotherapist, osteopath or personal |
| your ears, your knees are straight and that there | | | | trainer and create a program designed specifically |
| is a slight forward curve to your lower back. It is | | | | for you, providing a range of strengthening |
| important to remember that a healthy spine is | | | | exercises for the lower body and core and |
| not a straight one. The spine should curve inwards | | | | corrective stretching and back extension |
| at the neck, outwards at the chest and inwards | | | | exercises. |
| at the lower back. Clearly if the two curves do | | | | Product Help Clinic: |
| not balance each other to spread the pull of | | | | View a full range of standard and memory foam |
| gravity then the muscles, ligaments and joints | | | | seat wedges, lumbar supports, lumbar rolls and |
| have to work harder to support the weight of | | | | neck pillows at on-line Physiotherapy Supplies |
| the head and body. | | | | direct to the public and practitioner. |
| Poor posture is commonly found in the work | | | | Disclaimer: Professional independent medical advice |
| place as we sit at computers in unsuitable office | | | | should be taken before acting on any of the |
| chairs and speak frequently on mobile phones. | | | | information given in this article. |
| How can we improve posture? | | | | |