Poor posture is often caused by modern-day habits like slouching on a couch for long periods, crossing your legs while sitting, or looking down at a smartphone. It could also be due to lifting heavy objects incorrectly, like grocery bags or equipment at work. All these activities can bring your shoulders forward or make you stoop. It’s because the muscles in the back of your shoulders overstretch and weaken, while the muscles around the chest and in the front of your shoulders shorten. Gravity then pulls the muscles forward, preventing your frame from straightening.
Poor posture has consequences such as neck pain, back pain, headaches, troubled breathing, and more. The good news is, even if your poor posture has been a problem for years, it is still possible to make improvements. Physiotherapy clinics offer posture correction treatment in Dubai to help you move toward a better and healthier body position. Good posture is essential to spine health as it keeps your bones and joints in optimal alignment. When muscles and their supporting structures function correctly, abnormal wear and tear can be avoided.
Below are some tips on how to correct the worst effects of bad posture:
Forward Neck: This type of poor posture gives a person the appearance of a chicken-like neck, with the head protruding forward from the shoulders. It develops from constantly leaning forward when completing daily tasks such as washing up, cooking, or using the phone. Scoliosis correction specialists usually recommend the chin tuck exercise to strengthen the neck muscles to remedy this posture. Rollback your shoulders, look straight ahead, place two fingers on the chin, and gently tuck the chin to move the head back. Hold the position for 3-5 seconds, release, and repeat 10 more times.
Hunched Back: Also referred to as round back or postural kyphosis, hunched back is a condition in which there is the excessive curvature of the upper back. Without treatment, it can lead to pain and stiffness. It may be caused by poor posture during childhood or development problems with the spine. Therapists who handle scoliosis treatment for adults use various exercises to reverse this poor posture. It can be achieved through a combination of exercises involving chest stretching, extending the back, and strengthening the upper back muscles. Patients are also encouraged to engage in activities that strengthen the core muscles, like yoga or Pilates.
One-legged Lean: This poor posture results from placing the majority of your body weight on one leg when standing. People tend to do it unconsciously, such as when chatting on the phone, waiting for the train, drinking coffee, or just standing around. It becomes a bad postural habit that can cause ankle pain, knee pain, poor hip alignment, and additional stress on the body. The best remedy is to be mindful of your posture until it becomes a new habit not to favor one leg. Always stand with your feet hip to shoulder-width apart as much as possible. Doing so will distribute your weight evenly across both legs.
In this modern world where we spend so much of our time looking at our phones or using our computers, you’ll be surprised how quickly your posture can deteriorate. If you’re always feeling stiff and out of alignment, it can be a postural problem. NorAlign Functional Rehabilitation Centre can be your partner in exploring ways to correct your posture and ease the symptoms developed over time. We offer amazing physiotherapy services such as spinal therapy, orthopedics, functional rehabilitation, Pilates, and more! Contact +971 4 340 0017 today.