Your Posture Doesn’t Have To Suffer Any Longer

Here’s How Physical Therapy Can Help

If your posture is poor, it can put a strain on other parts of your body, causing discomfort, inflammation, and malfunction. Thankfully, physical therapy can help you improve your posture.

Perhaps you’re working on a project at work, it’s getting late, you’re focused, and you’re slouched forward in your desk chair, one eye on the computer and the other on the clock. You sit up and realize you’ve been in the zone for 2 hours without getting up for a break. 

The issue here is that by sacrificing your posture, you’re likely causing unnecessary back and neck pain. The good news is that your posture can be improved with simple techniques in physical therapy!

Why do I have poor posture?

At some point in your life, you’ll notice that you’re just not sitting or standing up as straight as you once did. This happens as a part of aging, stress, work-related demands, modern tech devices, and other causes. Sometimes we may try to stand or sit up straighter and have to stop because it hurts! This is a sign that our posture is less than ideal and action needs to be taken to improve it.

Poor posture isn’t generally due to laziness or apathy; rather, it generally has something to do with physical weakness or stiffness within our bodies. We slouch, slump, hunch, and droop over when we feel drained because our bodies literally get tired of holding us up.

Even if you exercise regularly, it is possible that there are still a few weak muscles or stiff joints contributing to your posture that you may not even realize. The muscles in your shoulders, back, abdomen, buttocks, and pelvic floor all play an important role in your posture. If even one of these is weak, your core will be affected, and your posture may suffer. The same holds true for the flexibility of our spine. Aging, posture habits, and frequent use of tech devices like phones cause stiffness of the thoracic and cervical spine. Over time this stiffness can worsen, making sitting up fully straight nearly impossible.

How does poor posture result in back pain?

Simply put, your spine was designed to stack each segment on top of the next in a very specific curvature. The natural position of your spine allows for normal movement and muscle function without stress and strain. When we get out of this ideal position our bodies have to find ways to compensate, which often results in stress and strain on muscles and joints that are being overworked. You guessed it, those overworked muscles and joints cause pain, inflammation, and ongoing postural dysfunctions. 

Do you have a tendency to slouch at your desk? Do you read emails by leaning forward? Do you type with your shoulders hunched over your keyboard? If you have recurrent back or neck discomfort, frequent headaches, or achy shoulders, it’s very likely that it’s caused by your posture. These are all things that individuals do without even recognizing how much of an impact they have on their bodies.

How will a physical therapy plan benefit me?

Your physical therapist will create a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs. This will concentrate on reducing discomfort, increasing strength, and improving posture as rapidly as feasible. Treatment strategies may include focusing on mobility, strength, flexibility, or stability, depending on the nature of your problem.

Our physical therapists have extensive knowledge and are committed to assisting patients in reducing pain and improving posture. When you arrive for your initial visit, your physical therapist will do a thorough examination to determine the source of your discomfort and the best therapy options for alleviating it. Schedule a free assessment with us today.