The Power Of Posture
Did you know that your spine is meant to naturally absorb physical stress and tension? The purpose: to keep the nervous system - our body’s communication superhighway - safe and effective. As the main protector of the spinal cord, the human spine plays an integral part in how you heal, function and, ultimately, how healthy you are.¹This means that your posture directly affects your overall wellness.
The Effects of Spinal Stress
When excessive strain is put on the bones in your spine (known as the vertebrae), the pressure on your spinal cord increases. This tension can lead to spinal cord compression, a condition that can occur anywhere from your neck to the lower back and can induce the following symptoms²:
- Pain and stiffness in the neck, back, or lower back
- Burning pain that spreads to the arms, buttocks, or down into the legs (sciatica)
- Numbness, cramping, or weakness in the arms, hands, or legs
- Loss of sensation in the feet
- Issues with hand coordination
- "Foot drop," weakness in a foot that causes a limp
Although there are specific conditions that can cause spinal cord compression to develop early on (such as scoliosis, rheumatoid arthritis, spinal injury, bone disease, etc), the most common circumstance develops from general wear and tear throughout the years.
The Problem With Poor Posture
In the past, it commonly took years for this general “wear and tear” to develop. This meant that many people would not experience these issues until much later in life. However, due to today’s sedentary lifestyle (where many people are spending hours a day sitting at a desk), it is becoming much more common to develop spinal misalignments and issues at an earlier age.Why?The answer is pretty simple: these are the consequences of years of poor posture.There are many factors that can play into a person developing poor posture. According to the American Chiropractic Association, these “most commonly include stress, obesity, pregnancy, weak postural muscles, abnormally tight muscles, and high-heeled shoes, decreased flexibility, a poor work environment, incorrect working posture, and unhealthy sitting and standing habits which can contribute to poor body positioning.”All of these things can result in the weakening of your postural muscles and excessive strain on the spine. The result? A stressed-out nervous system that can’t function effectively.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Regardless of how any postural problems have developed, the goods news is that they can be corrected.At Summit Chiropractic Center, Dr. Tilyr and Dr. Kelly are specially trained to evaluate any spinal misalignments that have developed from poor posture and perform safe and effective adjustments in order to help restore proper spinal positioning. In turn, this helps to repair the lines of communication that run from the nervous system to the rest of the body… making it easier for your body to adapt and maintain proper posture.
Improving your overall wellness starts with a healthy, happy spine. Give us a call today to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors!
802-662-1047summitchiropracticvt@gmail.com
¹The Foundation Series: Posture and Chiropractic, Wellness Media 2017