Blog

April 30, 2018

Poor Posture with Sitting: Negative Effects and Ways to Improve

Are you experiencing neck or back pain from a long day of sitting? Poor posture can have harmful effects on patient health. Understand more about the impact of poor posture when sitting and what to do about it today.

The Problem with Poor Posture from Sitting

It may not be obvious to patients that poor posture can have a negative impact on the body. Poor seated posture is a common issue among Americans. The head and shoulders slump, depressing the chest and reducing room in important internal cavities. Poor seated posture can result in:

• Back pain;
• Interference with digestion and constipation;
• Heartburn;
• Decrease in lung capacity;
• Migraine headaches and dental issues; and
• Changes in testosterone and cortisol hormone levels.

Over time, it can be harder to correct poor posture and patients may experience a loss of mobility when using certain joints.

Ways to Address Poor Posture

Patients may want to look into ways to prevent and correct poor posture when seated. Those that sit often may want to improve their ergonomics when sitting at a desk or table. This may help to keep the spine is proper alignment. Taking a break to walk or stretch every half hour may help reduce the pressure on the body and help patients return to a better seated posture. Ergonomic props, such as lumbar back supports, and the correct positioning of computer screens may help lessen the tendency toward poor seated posture.

Importance of Spine Care and Good Posture

Patients rely upon the spine for many important functions, making spine care and proper posture important for optimal health. Patients can learn more about proper posture, how to improve their spinal health and rehabilitate from spinal injuries from the 13 orthopedic specialists at Southeast Orthopedic Specialists in Northeast Florida.