Proper posture helps minimize pressure through your joints and reduces the risk of injury during daily activities.
Be patienttypically, correcting your posture involves breaking bad habits over time.
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Stand Up Straight
Proper posture means that your weight is distributed evenly along your spine when standing up straight.
For better standing posture:
2.
Try Standing Instead of Sitting at Work
If you have the option, try using astanding deskat work.
Adjust the desk height to approximately elbow level when your arms are resting by your sides while standing.
Wear supportive shoes and consider standing on an anti-fatigue mat to reduce pressure on your feet.
Avoid Overcorrecting Your Posture
Pushing your body into “new” positions can lead to pain.
Poor posture usually develops over time, meaning it takes time to correct.
Posture correctors can also be helpful when you’re working on improving your posture.
Wear Supportive Shoes
Shoes can affect your posture.
This posture prevents you from maintaining spinal alignment.
Consider usingshoe insertsfor additional arch support.
Consult apodiatrist(foot specialist) for individualized recommendations.
Avoid Crossing Your Legs When Sitting
Crossing your legs when sittingrotates your pelvis, altering pressure through your spine.
Sitting in this position can also compress nerves and blood vessels in the legs, causing numbness and tingling.
Get Up and Move More
To help correct poor posture, get up and move around throughout the day.
Keep these tips in mind:
9.
This can be difficult, especially if you move around often when you sleep.
Depending on your sleeping position, various sleep productssuch as pillows and mattressesare available to help support your spine.
Your needs can vary, depending on your sleep position:
10.
Stretching helpsimprove flexibilityand can make sitting or standing with good posture easier over time.
Diaphragmatic breathingis one technique that can help you breathe deeper.
It is also helpful for relaxation and reducing stress.
Ergonomic office equipment, stretches, and breathing exercises can all help improve your posture.
With time and practice, you could break the bad habits that have caused your poor posture.
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Harvard Health Publishing.3 surprising risks of poor posture.
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.Working in a sitting position.
Hospital for Special Surgery.Do posture correctors work?
Plus expert tips on how to use them.
American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine.Walking and your feet.
Canadian Centre of Occupational Health and Safety.Working in a sitting position.
2022 Mar 21;19(6):3728. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19063728
Harris Health System.Postural correction exercises.
