Prolonged Proper Posture Prevents Pain

Please, have a seat. Without even thinking about it you will sit down, positioning yourself so that you are comfortable. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

No actually, it doesn’t. Some might lean to either the left or right. Many automatically cross their legs (which is a huge no-no). You might even lean back into whatever you are sitting in/on. Unless we consciously make an effort to do the normal, everyday ‘activities of daily living’, in a mechanically correct way, we will continue to suffer. Furthermore, if we don’t suffer now, we will in time.

It is vital to consider how we are sitting, standing, sleeping, walking, working and generally moving through life every moment of every day.

Sit up straight! Keep your chin up! Don’t slouch! These and many more axioms have been suggested so that we use our bodies properly, however, they are too vague and down-right incorrect. To ‘sit up straight’ makes no mention of promoting the lordotic (lower back) curve. ‘Don’t slouch’ means don’t roll your shoulders forward but mentions nothing about keeping the upper back retractors (muscles between the shoulder blades and the spine) at a certain length. What needs to be taught is that we encourage the normal curves of the spine in every move, or maintain the curves while in static posture.

We need to take responsibility for our own bodies, once and for all! We can learn a great deal about how our bodies work and repair themselves! Millions, perhaps even billions of people around the world suffer from some sort of muscular ache or pain. It is blatantly obvious that pharmaceutical companies take full advantage of our quick-fix mentalities. Don’t get me wrong, I am a firm believe
in doing whatever it takes to live pain-free.

Until becoming educated about the disc core displacement, I had taken my fair share of pain medications. I have also learned over the last few years that more importantly: ‘how’ I use my body directly relates to how I feel after I use it.

Just think about that for a moment. How do you feel after sitting in front of a computer for a prolonged period? How do you feel after you have been driving for some time? On that matter, how do you get into and out of your car? How do you feel when you get out of bed? How do you feel when you go to bed? For each of us the answers might differ, but the cause for discomfort or pain is usually the same.

The answers lie within our selves; they always have and always will. Most of us come into this world perfect and pain-free. It’s only once we begin to move incorrectly and then are exposed to the world that we have ‘accidents’ and hurt ourselves.

At a minimum, the spine consists of the vertebrae and the intervertebral discs between them. The discs are in place to deal with the ‘compressive’ forces of living on this earth. By way of physics alone, when we put pressure on one side of the disc we are forcing the ‘core’ (nucleus pulposus) to the opposite side. (How many sit-ups or crunches have you done?) Herniated/bulging discs are the ‘core’ having been forced through all of the annular rings to the outer ring, creating a ‘bulge’. If we maintained the lumbar lordotic curve, barring a severe “accident”, the nucleus would stay where it belongs!

The spine is complex, as is the human body. All of the systems in the body need to be considered; improper posture and mechanics affects them all. Each system has specific individual responsibilities but also works in concert with the others. There is so much more to consider; this is only the beginning. Ponder the above-mentioned and promote proper posture (maintain and support the normal curves of the spine) for yourself and for those you love. Muscular pain due to improper posture and mechanics is preventable and I intend to prove it! Prevention is the key.

Have a healthy day!