Posture Correction

By Jasmine Alvarez

Posture Correction Q&A

What is Posture?

Posture is the position of a person’s body when sitting or standing. Good posture is when there is balance between opposing groups of muscles and the body is able to stand erect with all joints, bones, and muscles in correct alignment. Good posture is important regardless of the position the body is in such as sitting down, standing, lying down, squatting, and while in motion.

Why is good posture important?

Poor posture and posture problems occur when an imbalance is present in the tension and length relationship of the muscle groups. This is also referred to as postural misalignment. This can cause the pelvis and the load bearing joints to be moved from their proper position. A variety of negative side effects can result, including ankle, back, shoulder, neck, and knee pain and it can also impact the organs. When an imbalance is caused the muscles designed to carry weight can atrophy since they aren’t being used the way they should and the opposite muscles become too strong. This pulls the body out of alignment. Usually, postural problems include hip or shoulder elevation which makes one part higher than the other, rotation of hip or trunk which causes a part to move in front of the other, bow legs, and knock-knees.

How can a chiropractor help?

The chiropractors at Virginia Family Chiropractic will perform a thorough physical evaluation including posture, mobility, and range of motion. The doctor will also compare the person’s postural alignment with a model of ideal alignment. Using this information, the chiropractor will design a personalized exercise and manual manipulation program created to correct the patient’s specific issues. The chiropractor provides personalized manipulations, adjustments, massage and exercise programs to correct a person’s posture with follow-up maintenance. The whole body is taken into consideration so that improvements to posture can help to improve other aspects of the patient’s physical well-being.

How do you know if you have bad posture?

Answering “yes” to any of the following questions are strong indicators that you might need help achieving better posture:

  • Are my knees bent when walking or standing?
  • Are my shoulders rounded or uneven?
  • Does my head lean forward or backward when standing?

What are some negative ramifications associated with bad posture?

  • Pain in the back, knees, neck, and shoulder regions.
  • Muscle fatigue.
  • Frequent headaches.
  • Arthritis
  • Disc Degenerative Disease
  • Scoliosis in older adults

Obviously, the conditions caused by bad posture are not ideal for an active and fulfilling life. Back pain, headaches, neck pain and other side effects of bad posture can be debilitating and keep you from the activities you really want to do.

Fortunately, there is a solution. The Chiropractic experts at Virginia Family Chiropractic and Physical Medicine conduct a thorough physical evaluation on every patient. We then develop individualized plans (which include different ranges of motion increasing exercises, adjustments, and physical medicine) designed to correct bad posture, increase patient mobility/range of motion, and add to overall quality of life.

Reach out to us today in order to schedule an appointment to evaluate and begin to improve your posture.