Posture may seem minor, but it significantly impacts the body. Maintaining good posture is great for self-confidence and how others perceive you, but it also promotes spinal health and alleviates pain. Chiropractors use various techniques, including spinal manipulation, to improve posture by strengthening core muscles. In addition, chiropractors promote proper musculoskeletal system function, which supports posture.
Strengthening Muscles
Chiropractors like Brad Kern are experts in treating muscles, ligaments, and joints. They also know the importance of the core body structure to our overall health and function. Regular chiropractic treatment helps strengthen the core muscles that support the spine, preventing misalignments and reducing pain. Poor posture can affect many areas of the body. Slouching interferes with the digestive system and increases the risk of acid reflux, constipation, and breathing difficulties. It can also impact self-confidence, mood, and how others perceive us. It can also lead to back and neck pain and the physical signs of aging. When people slouch, the muscles in their back have to work harder than they would if standing straight. This puts more stress on the spinal discs and ligaments. Correct spinal alignment allows the back and neck muscles to relax, reducing nerve pressure. This is what chiropractors call a neutral spine.
Reducing Tension
When overactive muscles are pulling on the spine, they can make good posture difficult. A chiropractor can help to reduce this tension by using spinal manipulation techniques, which osteopaths and physiotherapists also use. These treatments involve manually applying a sudden, controlled force into joints to improve their movement. This can relieve pain and improve your body’s work, helping correct poor posture over time. Chiropractors can also use massage therapy to promote relaxation and reduce stress levels. This can trigger the release of feel-good hormones such as oxytocin and cortisol, which can help to soothe the body’s fight or flight response and encourage the parasympathetic nervous system to take over. This all-natural treatment approach is helping to revolutionize how people manage their mental health and well-being and can have profound implications for posture. It’s often thought that good posture looks better, but it’s much more than that. It can boost your confidence, reduce back and neck pain, aid digestion, and even help you sleep more effectively.
Increasing Flexibility
A chiropractor will use soft tissue therapy to ease spasms and tight muscles that result from poor posture. They will also use massage, joint mobilization, ice/heat treatments, and stretching exercises to improve your posture and ease pain. Good posture is a neutral spine and helps prevent back pain and stiffness. It also helps with your mood, digestive tract, and confidence levels. Slouching and bad posture have been known to cause indigestion, acid reflux, and lower breathing capacity. Chiropractors work to improve posture by adjusting the spinal curves and restoring the natural movement of the joints. This also allows the spine and limbs to move through their full range of motion, which improves flexibility. Flexibility is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and performing physical activities. While a chiropractor will not take you pole vaulting, they recommend stretching and training to improve your flexibility over time. This is a safe, natural, and effective way to increase flexibility.
Increasing Mobility
While many people associate chiropractors with spinal adjustments, they are also known for helping to increase mobility in the joints and soft tissue. This can help prevent muscles from tightening up and pulling the spine or shoulders into an unhealthy position. This can help with conditions such as forward head posture or “tech neck” (sometimes called), uneven pelvis or hip joints, and scoliosis. Chiropractors will work to restore the natural s-curve of the spine, which is critical for good posture. They will start by taking a history and asking questions about your lifestyle, exercise habits, and where you experience pain when standing or sitting for long periods. The chiropractor will then perform a physical exam and may use X-rays or MRIs to gain a more complete understanding of your health status.
