Health
By Catherine Rose
The Importance of Posture Posture can be defined as the way we carry and position our body throughout our daily physical activities. When our bodies have good posture it is less stressful on our joints and muscles, so it is important to be aware of how you are standing or sitting as you perform your daily activities – particularly if you spend a lot of the day in one position, such as sitting at a desk. If you have had bad posture for a long time (and most of us do) it will feel very strange and alien at first when you try to correct it, as the body wants to keep doing what it is used to. However, if you persevere, coupling this with regular exercise to strengthen muscle tone, eventually muscle memory will kick in and you will find that your posture has improved without you having to constantly think about it. For a good seated posture your knees should be slightly lower than your hips, so you need to position your chair height accordingly. If you work at a computer, ensure that the screen is at a comfortable eye level and you are not having to hunch forward or
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bend your neck. Sit with your feet flat on the floor facing forwards, a hip width apart, and straighten your back so that your tail bone ‘sticks out’ rather than your back being rounded. Your spine should form a gentle ‘S’ curve. Finally, make a conscious effort to lower your shoulders, slightly pushing your shoulder blades back and down at the same time. You may need to do this more than once as we all tend to naturally carry our shoulders in a raised, rounded position, which over time can lead to muscle tightness, tension headaches and back or neck pain. Are you a fan of stilettos? If so, you may want to limit their wear as high heels push the spine forward, over-arching the back. They also put pressure on your knees and the balls of your feet, which can cause joint problems later. Save the shoes for special occasions rather than wearing them every day. Exercise and core stability are important when maintaining good posture, as muscles weaken and muscle fibres shorten without regular movement and exercise,. Stretching exercises two or three times a week will help relieve tension, increase circulation and maintain
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