Poor Posture and Women
The likelihood that women will develop back pain later in life is largely determined by their posture, according to a survey of more than 1,200 women conducted for the British Chiropractic Association.
The association came up with five “posture profiles”:
- Spoon – flat back, rounded shoulders
- Leaning tower – head leans forward
- Bridge – arched back
- Flat-pack – flat back
- Normal posture – ears, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles in line
The worst posture is a leaning tower, where the head leans forward. According to the survey, nearly six in ten women with this posture suffer from back pain. The bridge posture, with an arched back, is the second worst, followed by a spoon position, with rounded shoulders.
It isn’t hard to understand how we stray from normal posture. Our children carry heavy backpacks that force them out of alignment. As adults, we sit at desks all day, hunched over computers, constantly looking down to check our smartphones. We slouch on the couch while watching TV and, at night, we sleep on old mattresses that don’t support our body weight. Eventually, our poor posture becomes second nature.
How to improve posture women?
Of course, there are things we can do to improve our posture.
- You can buy a new bed. A prescribed bedding system can reduce back pain by 57 percent, according to a 2002 study led by Bert Jacobson from the School of Applied Health and Educational Psychology, Health and Human Performance, Oklahoma State University. That study involved a sample of 22 people with documented disturbed sleep, shoulder pain, low back pain, and spine stiffness who spent 28 days sleeping on a prescribed bedding system.
- You can make sure your workspace is set up ergonomically. For example, your desk and chair should be at a proper height, everything on your desk should be within easy reach, your monitor should be at eye level – and both feet should be flat on the floor.
- Take breaks: Take at least a five-minute break from your screen every half hour to hour to stand up, stretch and move around. And don’t forget to take a few 10- to 15-minute breaks, as well.
>> Read more Ways to improve your posture here.
Treatments for bad posture in Symmetry Health Center
If you believe you have postural problems, posture chiropractic care can help. Correct posture is at the core of Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP), which can rehabilitate and reshape your spine to correct your posture. CBP is the most researched and results-oriented type of chiropractic care available.
If you live in Oakland or Alameda, consider paying a visit to Dr. Cynthia Boyd and her team at Symmetry Health Center. They are among only a handful of Oakland and Alameda-area chiropractors certified in Chiropractic BioPhysics.
Contact us to determine if you are a candidate for care at one of our Symmetry Health Center locations in Oakland or Alameda.