Posture and Ergonomics
Greetings from EPIC Chiropractic!
This month we are focusing on proper posture and ergonomics. This is important to the longevity of your spine’s health. The better you take care of your body and spine now, the better it will feel in the future.
Before we address proper posture of standing and sitting, let’s highlight some of the health benefits of practicing better posture throughout our daily activities:
Better breathing technique which leads to more oxygen being delivered to your body directly resulting in higher energy.
Less stress on joints and discs of spinal column.
Lower chance of strain/sprain injuries.
A more positive outlook and attitude throughout your day.
Quick Tips for proper posture while seated:
Adjust chair so knees and hips are at 90 degrees and level with each other.
Have elbows at 90 degree angle while maintaining an erect spine with it rested up against the chair back.
Keep both feet flat on the floor if possible.
If possible, have work material (i.e. computer screen) at eye level, keeping your cervical spine erect and facing forward.
Take frequent breaks to stand, move around, and stretch.
Quick Tips for proper posture while standing:
Imagine a straight vertical line, it should connect your ears, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles.
Let your arms hang naturally by your side with shoulder blades back. Remember to not “lock” your knees.
Keep your body weight evenly distributed along the balls of your feet, don’t rest on your heels.
This Month’s ‘Did You Know’:
Even though a giraffe’s neck is much longer than that of a human, their cervical spine is made up of exactly 7 vertebrae just like mine and yours. Theirs, however, are much larger in structure!
