It’s easy to get into bad habits when it comes to our posture. You don’t pay attention to the ergonomics of your desk, so you slouch for awhile without even realizing it. Or you’ve had several busy weeks and haven’t had time to make it to the gym or even stretch. Unfortunately, prolonging the habits of slouching or inactivity can cause muscle fatigue and tension that will, in turn, give you bad posture. Signs that you’re developing poor posture include back pain, spinal dysfunction, joint degeneration, rounded shoulders, and a potbelly. It’s important to understand how poor posture affects these different areas and how a chiropractor can help. Contact Revelation Chiropractic in Fort Collins today if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms.
#1- Back Pain
When you sit with poor posture, over time it places a lot of stress on your spine. Prolonged stress can change the shape of your spine and cause back pain due to constricted blood vessels and nerves. This stress can also cause back pain from problems with your muscles, discs, and joints.
#2- Spinal Dysfunction
Poor posture can also cause spinal dysfunction over long periods of time, particularly in the cervical spine (your neck). Symptoms of spinal dysfunction due to poor posture include neck pain, neck stiffness, headaches, migraine-like headaches, facial pain, arm pain, sensory and motor changes in the arms and legs, ear pain, chest pain, dizziness or vertigo, and other issues.
#3- Joint Degeneration
Slouching and a lack of physical activity will cause your joints to degenerate at an accelerated rate. If you’re experiencing joint pain, particularly in your knees, poor posture could be affecting your joints. This will increase your chances of arthritis at a younger age if left untreated.
#4- Rounded Shoulders
This sign is one that is more noticeable to the eye than other symptoms of poor posture. Rounded shoulders are characterized by an exaggerated curve of the upper back, caused by slouching. This sign is often accompanied by the head leaning too far forward.
#5- Potbelly
If you eat well and exercise, you may be confused as to why you still seem to have a potbelly. This could be another sign of poor posture. When you sit for long periods of time, it can cause your hip flexors to tighten in this shortened position. As a result, your pelvis tilts forward and your stomach pokes out. This condition is also called APT, anterior pelvic tilt, and can cause lower back pain, hip pain, knee pain, and flat feet.
How a Chiropractor Can Help
With routine examinations and adjustments, your chiropractor will be able to begin correcting the effects of bad posture on your body. They will also be able to make suggestions for stretches, exercises, and lifestyle changes that you can implement into your daily life to reverse and prevent the effects of poor posture. If you have been experiencing any of these symptoms, stretching and exercise may not be enough to fix the problem. Be sure to reach out to one of our licensed and professional chiropractors at Revelation Chiropractic in Fort Collins to schedule an appointment and begin experiencing the effects of better posture immediately.
