Your Posture Determines Your Health

That is a pretty big statement! But, just think about it for a moment... like any structure (be it a skyscraper or a home) there needs to be a firm foundation and balanced weight in the structure or else the structure will crack and eventually crumble. The same is true for your body. Your skeleton is the structure upon which the rest of your body rests. If your skeleton is out of whack or not balanced, your bones, organs, and muscles will not be properly oriented. Poor posture interferes with the body’s postural mechanisms, including slow-twitch/fast-twitch muscle fibers, muscle strength/length, ligaments, and the nervous system.

Posture is controlled neurologically. Righting reflexes and the cerebellum regulate the skull's upright position—keeping the skull upright even at the expense of displacing the lower spine.

The importance of balance and structure is even more important when it comes to our spine and the 24 moving vertebrae of the spinal column which house spinal cord. The vertebrae while designed to protect the spinal cord, often, instead pinches it sending pain, numbness, tingling or loss of function to varying parts of the body.

Good posture involves training your body to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement or weight-bearing activities. Proper posture keeps bones and joints in the correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly; helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that could result in arthritis; decreases the stress on the ligaments holding the joints of the spine together; prevents the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions; prevents fatigue because muscles are being used more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy; prevents strain or overuse problems;
prevents backache and muscular pain; in addition to contributing to a good appearance.

Take a look at a young child and notice their easy and effortless movements and the beautiful "S" curve of their spine. Proper balance and "S" curve is demonstrated below:

Unfortunately, as we get older we drop into bad habits of slouching and inactivity which can cause muscle fatigue and ultimately lead to bad posture. Effects of bad posture include back, shoulder and neck pain; spinal dysfunction; joint degeneration, rounded shoulders, etc. Signs of poor posture can include rounded shoulders; potbelly; bent knees when standing or walking; head that either leans forward or backward; back pain; body aches and pains; muscle fatigue; and headaches.

Permanent posture correction and pain relief are attainable with Pettibon Protocols. Call 818-881-5553 to schedule your complimentary posture evaluation today.