Is your posture causing your pain?

At its most basic level, your posture is the way in which you hold your body. It’s how you stand, sit, and move. Good posture aligns the body in a way that puts the least amount of strain on muscles, ligaments, and joints. When your posture is poor, however, it can lead to chronic pain and a slew of other health problems.

One of the most immediate and apparent effects of bad posture is pain. When you slouch, hunch your shoulders, or crane your neck, you put additional strain on your muscles and joints. This extra pressure can cause muscle imbalances and increase tension throughout your body, leading to pain, stiffness, and limited mobility.

Over time, bad posture can also lead to more serious problems! For example, poor posture puts additional pressure on your spine, which can cause it to shift out of alignment. This misalignment can cause nerve irritation, leading to back pain, neck pain, and headaches.

But pain is just the beginning.

Poor posture can also lead to decreased lung capacity, which can cause breathing problems. It can also affect your digestive system, making it harder for food to move through your system properly. And it can lead to decreased circulation, which can cause a range of issues, including edema, varicose veins, and fatigue. It’s clear, then, that good posture is essential to good health.

By maintaining proper alignment, you can reduce the stress that your body experiences and improve your overall well-being. This can include less pain, improved breathing, better digestion, and increased circulation.

When it comes to posture, there are several habits that can cause harm.

Prolonged sitting:

This is one of the biggest culprits. Whether it's at a desk, in a car, or on the couch, sitting for long periods of time can result in a slouched posture, forward head tilt, rounded shoulders, and a tight lower back.

Carrying heavy bags or backpacks on one shoulder:

This can cause an imbalance in the body, leading to uneven shoulders, a tilted pelvis, and a curved spine.

Using mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets:

Can also contribute to poor posture. Holding these devices too low or too high, or hunching over them for extended periods of time, can put strain on the neck and back muscles, resulting in a forward head posture and rounded shoulders.

Sleeping on an unsupportive mattress or pillow:

Can also lead to poor posture. If the body is not properly supported during sleep, it can lead to a variety of postural issues, including a misaligned spine, uneven hips, and rounded shoulders.

Wearing high heels or shoes that do not provide proper arch support:

Can create poor posture. High heels shift the body's weight forward, leading to a swayback posture with an exaggerated curve in the lower back. Shoes with no arch support can also lead to a flattening of the natural arches of the foot, resulting in an inward rotation of the knees and an imbalance in the body's alignment.

Neurosomatic Massage Therapy Can help!

At Optimal Performance Massage Therapy, we believe that Neurosomatic Massage Therapy can have a significant impact on correcting your posture. Neurosomatic massage therapy is a technique that focuses on correcting dysfunctional movement patterns, muscle imbalances, and postural deviations in the body. It involves a deep tissue massage paired with specific exercises and stretches to correct these imbalances and restore optimal function.

Manipulating the soft tissues of the body through Neurosomatic massage therapy may help relax tight muscles and restore proper joint alignment. This allows your body to settle into a natural and more balanced posture. In addition to the massage therapy corrective exercises and stretches will help you maintain proper posture and decrease the likelihood of future postural deviations will be recommended.

With the use of Neurosomatic massage therapy, our clients experience better posture, improved mobility, and decreased pain. If you are experiencing chronic pain or poor posture, consider the benefits that Neurosomatic massage therapy may provide. Book an appointment with us at Optimal Performance Massage Therapy today and start your journey to optimal posture and mobility.