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It is a well-known fact that good posture is essential for good health. Any problem inflicted on the patient's posture could be the result of bad sitting or standing habits. Posture defines the way by which the patient holds their body together while they are sitting, standing, or lying down. Proper posture is the right alignment of body parts with the right amount of muscle tension. Proper posture is a necessity for balance and control. In reality, posture is not something that has control over. There are specific muscles known as postural muscles that do the job for us. Muscle groups known as hamstrings and back muscles are essential to maintaining good posture. 

Importance of Good Posture

Proper posture allows us to carry out physical functions (standing, walking, sitting, lying down) of the body without producing stress or strain on the supporting muscles and ligaments. Good posture allows us to maintain joints and bones in the right position, minimize stress on the joints and ligaments, prevent muscle fatigue, and reduce muscular pain. 

To have better control over your posture, the patient must have enough muscle strength and flexibility. 

Negative Effects of Bad Posture

Bad posture can have negative impacts on the postural muscles, causing injury and back pain. Factors that contribute to poor posture are stress, pregnancy, tight muscles, poor working posture, and bad sitting habits.

Common Posture Problems

1. Over-Pronated Feet

Overpronation is also known as flat feet. It's a condition when the arches of the foot roll inward when walking. The cause behind overpronation can be pregnancy, obesity, or wrong footwear. Overpronation causes stress on the feet, tightens calf muscles, and could rotate the knee leading to conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis, Heel Spurs, Metatarsalgia, etc. As a solution to over-pronation, your specialist would advise you a gait analysis and orthotics.

2. Forward Hip Tilt

 A forward tilt may be hard to recognize and could be the result of sitting for long hours without stretching. This condition can start affecting the knees an the muscles of the butt, forcing them to be excessively tight. Your specialist would advise you to stretch exercises for the back and hips.

3. Hunchback

An excessively curved upper back is the first sign of hunchback and is a result of bad sitting posture. The habit of maintaining a hunched position over a computer screen forces the chest muscles to tighten with time, leading to excessive curvature of the shoulder muscles. It is possible to treat hunchbacks with stretching exercises that would work on strengthening the upper back postural muscles

Good posture can go a long way to treating conditions of the neck and back.

Understand and find solutions to your postural problems by requesting an appointment with Dr. Heshmat today.