Long-Term Effects of Poor Posture

Poor posture is one of the major culprits of back problems in America. Aside from neck problems and back pain, poor posture can cause other detrimental health issues, including:

• Poor circulation
If you have circulation problems, your poor posture can aggravate your condition. And if you’re sedentary, having poor posture can increase your risk of developing varicose veins.

• Impaired lung function
In order to function well, our body requires a sufficient amount of oxygen. The amount of oxygen in our body can be affected when you have poor posture.

Not sitting, standing, or walking properly can have a negative effect on your lung’s function and capacity. When this happens, your vital organs such as your brain and heart may not be able to get the right amount of oxygen they need, keeping them from functioning well.

• Incontinence
Poor posture may also lead to stress incontinence. It’s a condition characterized by leaking a small amount of urine when laughing or coughing.

When you slouch, you can increase your abdominal pressure, which also adds pressure to your bladder. Having poor posture also decreases the pelvic floor’s ability to hold against that pressure.

• Constipation
Constipation is another effect of having poor posture. When you hunch over with your knees lower than your hips, you make it harder for your abdominal muscles to help move the feces out.

• Heartburn
Slouching can trigger heartburn. The added pressure it places on the abdominal muscles, forcing the stomach acid to move in a different direction.

• Observing Proper Posture
Making it a habit to observe proper posture can benefit you in several ways. It can improve your mood, breathing, and memory. On top of that, it makes you look taller and more confident.

To achieve proper posture, you have to aim to have a neutral spine. A neutral spine means having a small hollow at your neck’s base, a small roundness at your middle back, and a small hollow in your lower back.

You can achieve this while standing by making sure that your ears, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles are aligned in one straight line.

When you sit, you can observe good posture by focusing on keeping your ears and shoulders lined up. This will keep your shoulders from slumping, which is a common posture problem when working on a desk.

Fix back and neck issues at Ozark Ortho

If you ‘fix’ your posture but still experiencing back and neck issues, then talking to a specialist may help. Ozark Orthopaedics has specialists who have years of experience in diagnosing and treating problems related to the back and neck. To request an appointment, please call (479) 521-2752.