We always hear health professionals tell us to maintain great posture. But what is good posture? Simply put, maintaining good posture is when we train our bodies to sit, stand, run and walk in positions that put less strain on supporting ligaments and muscles. There are correct sitting, standing, lifting and even driving postures. If your body is unable to naturally maintain this posture, you could get a training product like a standing desk and a height-adjustable desk to help you.
To continue, we'll be looking at the various ways to train our bodies to walk, stand and sit in the best positions. These positions ensure that our muscles go through as little strain as possible, and they also ensure that our bodies experience very little structural damage. If you're having spine or back trouble, you should know that bad posture could be the cause. That's why it's important to maintain good posture.
There are several ways that maintaining a good posture helps you, and some of these ways include;
- Keeping a good posture aligns bones and ligaments properly, and this ensures that muscles are used correctly
- It decreases the strain on spine ligaments
- It stops the spine from being stuck in abnormal positions
- It prevents early-stage arthritis— or delays it, at the very least
- Since muscles are being used efficiently, it prevents fatigue
If you're interested in all these benefits, you should start paying a lot more attention to your posture. For example, to maintain a great sitting posture, you should follow these steps:
- Sit with your back straight, and you should ensure that your shoulders are back. Your buttocks should touch the back of your chair
- While standing, your back should have all three normal back curves. You can use a lumbar roll or a rolled-up towel to maintain these curves.
- Slouch completely at the end of your chair after sitting
- Draw yourself up, and move the curve of your back as far back as possible. Hold this position for a few seconds, and then release the position slightly. This is the best sitting posture.
- Make sure to distribute your body weight on both hips evenly
- Ensure that you keep your knees at a right angle. You also need to make sure that your knees are either even with or slightly higher than your hips. Use a stool if you must. You should also avoid crossing your legs
- Your feet should be kept flat on the floor
- You should try to avoid sitting in the same position for more than thirty minutes. This is where it is important to get a standing desk converter or a height-adjustable desk. These desks will allow you to work while standing, therefore relieving the strain that sitting for too long puts on your back. You could get an electric type or even a manual one— both are equally as good and will help you maintain great posture.
- If you're at work, try to adjust your work station so that you can sit forward and have it tilt towards you. That's why standing desks are amazing— whether in sitting or standing positions, they are easily adjustable.
- Make sure to use back support at the curve of your back. You should also ensure that your knees are at the same level or higher than your hips.
- Sit with your seat close to the steering wheel, as this supports the curve of your back. Your seat should be in a position that allows your feet to reach the pedals and your knees to bend.
How To Find Your Correct Driving Position
Best Sleeping And Lying Down Positions.
First off, no matter how you sleep, you should ensure that your pillow is under your head, and not your shoulders. Additionally, your pillow should be thick enough to allow your head to be in a proper position.
- You should try, as much as possible, to sleep in a position that allows you to maintain the natural curve in your back. You should also avoid sleeping on your stomach, especially if your mattress isn't firm. Do not sleep in a position where your knees are drawn up to your chest.
- Your mattress or bed should not sag. If need be, try to place a board beneath your mattress to make it firmer.
- You should consider using back support at night. This will invariably make you more comfortable.
- When standing up from sleeping or lying down position, try to sit up by pushing yourself up by the hands. Do not stand by bending forward at your waist.
If you have back pain and follow this advice, your back pain will be gone in no time. If, as unlikely as it may be, any of this advice causes your back pain to increase, immediately stop it and arrange an appointment with a physician.
