Posture Related Back Pain
What is one of the first things people notice about you?
Your Posture
We’ve all heard our mother’s say ‘stand up straight’ or caught our own reflection and thought the same. Besides making you look good; your posture also affects your health.
If you or your family are suffering from back or spinal pain, then posture could be the reason behind it.
Our daily lives present a lot of postural problems for kids and adults alike. Whether it is spending the school day sitting in a classroom, slouching on the lounge, spending too long looking at your phone or working at the laptop all day. It is no wonder that these days almost everyone is in need of postural improvement.
Come in and get your posture checked at Bay Active Physio Double Bay.
What is Posture and why is it important?
Posture is the unconscious position assumed by your body in response to gravity and is a combination of both intrinsic and environmental factors.
Did you know that for every inch of forward head posture can increase the weight of the head on the spine by an additional 3kg?
This is an example of how small postural changes can have meaningful effects on how your body feels day to day.
- Correct postural alignment places minimal stress and strain on the supporting structures of the body.
- It creates a state of muscular and skeletal balance which protects the body against injury or skeletal deformity.
- Good postural patterns allow for optimal movement and biomechanics
The Causes of Postural Alteration
- Postural alignment is the end result of the way the body has been used or positioned over a prolonged period of time.
- Abnormal muscle tension and alignment stresses alter the loads through bones, discs, ligaments and joints.
- Specific causes can include more serious issues such as injury, acute pain or biomechanics. Environmental factors such as work ergonomics, sports or hobbies, stress management and sleeping position all contribute to posture as well.
Common Postural Back Pain Dysfunctions
- Spinal muscle spasm and dysfunction
- Joint degeneration
- Discogenic low back and nerve pain
- Rounded shoulders
- A hunch back (Dowager’s Hump)
- A sway back or potbelly (Lordosis)
How can your physiotherapist at Bay Active Physio help?
- By Creating an awareness of poor postural habits
- Limiting poor postural habits
- Develop conscious control to replace old habits
- Ensure integration into daily activities and movements
- Improve strength and mobility to create lasting abilities to self-manage your posture
- Ergonomic assessments to create a safe work or home office set up
Want to improve your posture? Book an assessment with your physiotherapist at Bay Active Physiotherapy today!