Dr. Jessica did a FABULOUS job talking about how sitting too much can effect your overall health and well being.. I wanted follow up with this and touch on how important overall posture is for your health. 

Did you know that posture ranks right up at the top of the list when you are talking about good health. It is as important as eating right, exercising, getting a good night’s sleep and avoiding potentially harmful substances like alcohol, drugs and tobacco. Good posture is a way of doing things with more energy, less stress and fatigue. Without good posture, you can’t really be physically fit.

We’re a health conscious society today and good posture is a part of it. Because good posture means your bones are properly aligned and your muscles, joints and ligaments can work as nature intended. It means your vital organs are in the right position and can function at peak efficiency. Good posture helps contribute to the normal functioning of the nervous system.

Without good posture, your overall health and total efficiency may be compromised. Because the long-term effects of poor posture can affect bodily systems (such as digestion, elimination, breathing, muscles, joints and ligaments), a person who has poor posture may often be tired or unable to work efficiently or move properly.

Even for younger people, how you carry yourself when working, relaxing or playing can have big effects. Did you know that just fifteen minutes reading or typing when using the wrong positions exhausts the muscles of your neck, shoulders and upper back?

Often, poor posture develops because of accidents or falls. But bad posture can also develop from environmental factors or bad habits. This means that you have control. 

Today, posture-related problems are increasing:

• As we become a society that watches more television than any previous generation;
• As we become a more electronic society, with more and more people working at sedentary desk jobs or sitting in front of computer terminals;
• As more and more cars are crowding our roads, resulting in accidents and injuries;
• And as we drive in cars with poorly designed seats.

In most cases, poor posture results from a combination of several factors, which can include:

• Accidents, injuries and falls
• Poor sleep support (mattress)
• Excessive weight
• Visual or emotional difficulties
• Foot problems or improper shoes
• Weak muscles, muscle imbalance
• Careless sitting, standing, sleeping habits
• Negative self image
• Occupational stress
• Poorly designed work space
• And you guessed it… SUBLUXATION in the spine

So as you can see while the posture evaluation here in our office may seem short and irrelevant to your health and chiropractic care.. it most certainly is not. It is one of the most important evaluations we do to gather information about you, your body and your over all health. 

So besides getting your spine checked and adjusted regularly… what else can you do to improve your posture??

• Keep your weight down – excess weight, especially around the middle, pulls on the back, weakening stomach muscles.
• Develop a regular program of exercise – regular exercise keeps you flexible and helps tone your muscles to support proper posture.
• Buy good bedding – a firm mattress will support the spine and help maintain the same shape as a person with good upright posture.
• Pay attention to injuries from bumps, falls and jars – injuries in youth may cause growth abnormalities or postural adaptations to the injury or pain that can show up later in life.
• Have your eyes examined – a vision problem can affect the way you carry yourself as well as cause eyestrain.
• Be conscious of where you work – is your chair high enough to fit your desk? Do you need a footrest to keep pressure off your legs?
• Straighten Up and Stay Healthy

What questions do you have!?

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Dr. Nicole Davis graduated from Logan University with not only her Doctorate in Chiropractic but her Bachelors in Life Sciences. After working with hundreds of clients a week in a busy Ohio Chiropractic clinic, she decided to head home to Des Moines to be closer to her family.  She currently specializes in family wellness care with advanced training in pediatric and pregnancy care, working alongside 2 other doctors in the only Wellness Center in Iowa to offer Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Specialized Pediatric and Pregnancy Care as well as Functional Medicine.  She loves spending time with family, friends and her dog, Maci. She is here to serve her community with love, support and enthusiasm.