A patient's posture will tell a lot about the person and their health in general. How many times have you heard the teachers or parents yell out, stand up straight? While it may just sound like some annoying saying, keeping proper posture has more benefits than just appearing taller or having your clothing fall in place. Standing up straight was actually the best advice your parents have given you.
Good posture is also known as neutral spine. When we have good posture, the muscles surrounding the spine are balanced and supporting the body equally. What exactly does good posture look and feel like? When sitting, your feet should rest flat on the floor, with even weight on both hips. Your back should be mostly straight you’ll have natural curves in your lumbar, thoracic, and cervical areas. Your shoulders should be back but relaxed and your ears should line up over your collarbones. When standing, your legs should have a slight knee bend so you’re not hyper extending or locking your knee joints.
Keeping this proper posture or neutral spine has many valuable health benefits. I do strongly believe the main reason I do not get sick is because I never slouch in salaah that I perform 7 times every day. Salaah alone is preventative medicine as well as cure. I am aware of every move I make as well as focusing on the words as well as its meaning.
I had severe degeneration over 15 years from my study days which was detected 3 years ago between T3-T6 and was advised neuro surgery was the only way. I laughed so hard that I actually wet myself. That is when I looked into the importance of posture during salaah, corrected the degeneration. I do not believe my degeneration was from studying. I believe T3-T6 were affected due to emotional constraint with me. T3 because I used to suppress old sadness and anger, T4 as feeling irritated, annoyed and frustrated with life, T5 as I felt things were not moving in the right direction in life for me and T6 as I was carrying too many burdens, stresses and problems.
Reduce lower back pain: sitting or standing in a slouched position for prolonged periods of time stresses your lower back. More specifically, it puts pressure on the posterior structures of the spine, including the intervertebral discs, facet points, ligaments, and muscles.
Reduce frequency of headaches: poor posture can contribute to tension headaches, due to increased muscle tension in the back of the neck. Often if we correct our posture, we can reduce muscle tension and improve our headaches.
Increase energy: when your bones and joints are in correct alignment, it allows the muscles to be used as they are intended, so you’ll have less fatigue and more energy. In other words, the muscles do not have to work so hard to do what they’re supposed to do.
Lessen tension: a forward head posture puts strain on the upper back, shoulder, and neck areas. With proper alignment, the joints and ligaments are less stressed and less subject to chronic overuse.
Breathe more deeply: if you are slouching, you are compressing your lungs. If you’re sitting and standing taller, your lungs have more space to expand. In other words, good posture improves your breathing.
Improve digestion and circulation: if you’re compressing vital organs, your circulation is poor, and those organs aren’t going to work as well. Healthy blood flow requires proper alignment and avoiding positions which cramp circulation, like crossing your legs.
Say bye bye to TMJ: when we have a forward head position, our mandibular joint and jaw muscles experience stress and tension. This can contribute to pain with eating, talking, yawning, as well as clicking with opening, and headaches.
Prevent injuries during workouts: our posture does not just affect us when we’re sitting and standing, but when we’re exercising, too. For example, having an engaged core and neutral spine during a squat will help prevent injury.
Increase confidence: not only can good posture boost your energy levels and reduce your pain, it can also increase your self esteem. One study says good posture gives you more confidence in your own thoughts.