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DRS. MELISSA & SHIMON RUBINSTEIN What Does Posture Have to Do with It?

IF YOU ARE READING THIS ARTICLE, IT LIKELY MEANS YOU’RE TAKING A break from staring at a screen — unless you’re reading a digital version, of course, which is very likely. According to recent data, the average person spends 3 hours and 15 minutes on their phone a day. And one in five people spend 4.5 hours on their phone each day. Another study shows that, on average, people pick up their phones 58 times per day. While we’re on the topic of picking up the phone, if you’re on

Instagram, make sure to follow us at @RubinsteinFamilyChiro! Over the last three years, children and adults have become more attached to screens than ever before. This increased screen time is creating worsening posture, which can have a major impact on your overall health. We’d like to discuss the negative effects of poor posture in hopes to motivate you to do something about it. » Pain and soreness: When you are hunched over, it causes your muscles to work harder, leading to muscle pain, soreness and even fatigue. Too many ignore the soreness and pain caused by their poor posture without thinking about the long-term health problems it’s creating. Poor posture can often lead to chronic pain because it causes so much stress on the spine. Many people suffer from lower-back pain without realizing it can be a result of poor posture. » Effects on mood: Posture impacts your mood and can have great effects on your sense of well-being. A study in the Journal of Health Psychology found that those who sat in a slumped position were more fearful, had lower self-esteem and were more likely to experience bad moods compared to those with good posture. » Increased stress: Bad posture can increase physical and mental stress. Because bad posture causes your back muscles to work harder, it causes physical stress and, therefore, pain. This pain has a negative impact on our mental health, too. In the above-mentioned study, a link was made between posture and our reaction to stress. The results of the study indicated that sitting upright might help you become more resilient to stress. Additionally, it was found that bad posture decreases testosterone and increases cortisol, the stress hormone. » Carpal tunnel syndrome: We have spoken before about the nerves in the neck and back and how they are responsible for muscle function in the wrists, arms and hands. Your poor posture can have a direct impact on this muscle group, which is susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome. If you get numbness and tingling in your arms and hands or suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, there is a good chance your posture is involved. » Digestive issues: Because slouching causes your organs to be bunched together, poor posture can have a direct impact on your digestion. It makes it more difficult for your body to digest food, causing constipation. » Poor breathing: The best position for your lungs to work right is when you are sitting upright, as the diaphragm and rib cage are able to expand properly. Poor posture restricts your oxygen and blood flow, making it more difficult to breathe. This can lead to increased stress and anxiety, as well as decreased energy levels. As you can see, having good posture is very important to ensure optimal health in adults and children. Chiropractic is very effective in improving posture by aligning the spine and improving joint flexibility and taking stress off certain muscle groups, allowing for less stress on the body. Good posture + proper alignment = optimal function of the body. If you feel you already have poor posture, it might be a good idea to go to a chiropractor for an evaluation and plan of action. If you would like THE HUSBAND-AND-WIFE TEAM OF DRS. MELISSA AND SHIMON RUBINSTEIN OF RUBINSTEIN FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC HAVE A FAMILY- to see how your posture is, please contact BASED WELLNESS PRACTICE IN THE HEART OF CUTLER BAY LOCATED our office and mention this article for a free ON THE CORNER OF OLD CUTLER ROAD AND FRANJO ROAD. THEY LOOK FORWARD TO ENHANCING THE LIVES OF CUTLER BAY, PALMETTO posture evaluation. BAY, PINECREST AND SOUTH DADE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT Now, adjust your position, sit up RUBINSTEINFAMILYCHIRO.COM OR CALL 305.336.1803. MAKE SURE TO LIKE THEM ON INSTAGRAM AT @RUBINSTEINFAMILYCHIRO AND ON straight, take three deep breaths and FACEBOOK AT RUBINSTEIN FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC. enjoy your day.

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Rubinstein Family Chiropractic 305-336-1803

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Serving Cutler Bay, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Homestead and South Dade

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