What can a chiropractor do to help fix your posture?
Postural problems come from three things: poor habits, tight or weak muscles, and restricted spinal joints. A chiropractor can advise you on the first two and loosen up the spinal restrictions.
Poor habits cause poor posture
When people talk about poor posture, they are usually referring to forward head posture and rounded shoulders. The first step is always to avoid the positions that cause this: sitting slouched and spending too much time with your head looking down. (Usually at the same time!) Always sit right back in the chair to avoid slouching and avoid looking down at mobile phone or laptop for long periods. (Especially on a couch, or bed, with your mobile/laptop on your lap so that you end up looking down in the direction of your belly-button all day!)
Tight or weak muscles make it hard to keep good posture
If the muscles that pull our head and shoulders forward are tight this keeps dragging us back to poor posture. A chiropractor can show you how to stretch your pectoralis muscles and your sternocleidomastoid muscle. If the muscles that hold us in a position of good posture are weak, we can’t hold ourselves straight. A chiropractor can show you how to strengthen your Rhomboids, Lower Trapezius and Deep Neck Flexors.
Restricted spinal joints hold us in poor posture
This is the part of the correction of poor posture that chiropractors come into their own. Chiropractors specialise in freeing up restricted joints in the upper back and the base of the neck that make standing up straight so hard to do. When the joints are loosened, holding good posture is significantly easier.
Watch this video to see the exercises you can do to improve your posture.
Stefan Becker
Chiropractor, Barcelona