Improve Your Posture, Improve Your Health.
What is posture?
Posture is defined as the position that we hold our bodies in. Proper posture helps to prevent excessive pressure being placed on joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons of the body.
Problems from poor Posture?
Improper or poor posture is a very common problem. In this age of technology, many of us spend hours on a computer, on our cellphones or watching television. Our society today has become much less active then previous generations. Long periods of sitting improperly result in tight chest muscles, overstretched rotator cuff and scapular muscles and hyperextended upper part of neck (cervical spine). The most apparent changes that occur are forward protrusion of head, rounded shoulders, and hunched back. As a result you can develop overuse conditions like rotator cuff strain, limited shoulder and neck movement, neck pain and even tension headaches, back pain and low mood and lowered work performance.
How to restore good posture?
Physiotherapy, massage therapy and specific exercises focused at improving posture can help correct posture, resolve pain and limitations.
Your physiotherapist will identify postural faults and correct them with various strategies like specific exercises for postural awareness, stretching and strengthening muscles, joint mobilizations, muscle co-activation, etc. Tight muscles can be stretched and weak muscles can be strengthened to restore muscle balance. Back and neck muscles can be trained to contract properly to maintain a good sitting/standing alignment (as in the picture above).
In addition to treatment of existing problems, physiotherapy can help prevent posture-related issues.
Additionally, Posture Medic brace can be used to help correct posture. It is a tool that can be used by people of all ages to retrain proper posture when siting or standing for long periods or performing repetitive activities. For children, this can be a preventative tool and help to promote proper growth and development of the musculoskeletal system and form a good sitting habit. It is not uncommon for seniors to develop poor posture or postural deformities due to years of repetitive stress and strain on their body and this brace can help them as well.
According to Posture Medic International here are a few benefits to having good posture:
Reduces pain in your neck, back and shoulders
Reduces muscle tension
Helps to increase range of motion
Postural stabilizing muscles develop muscle memory
Can improve sleep
Improve muscle tone and strength
How does the posture medic brace work?
The posture medic brace is a specifically designed resistance band that can be worn around your shoulders and upper back. When you wear the brace your upper back is placed into proper postural alignment, which helps to develop muscle memory of your stabilizing muscles. Developing muscle memory helps you to maintain correct postural alignment without fatiguing.
Posture Medic brace is available at Bayridge Physiotherapy in all sizes.
Regardless of your age, it is never too late to correct your posture and restore musculoskeletal balance in your shoulders, chest, neck and back.
Let us help you break free of poor posture and its consequences. Call us at 613-634-6666 or email us info@bayridgephysio.com
