How many times did someone in your life tell you to stand up straight? Put your shoulders back with your chin up? Although it usually came as a command, it’s something that all of us should have listened to when we were younger.

It’s estimated that over 80 percent of Americans have bad posture because it’s not something that is taught from a young age or even expected. People slouch their way through life for a variety of reasons, whether that be poor muscle mass, sitting at a desk all day or just out of habit.

But that is the problem. Having bad posture can lead to a lot of problems such as back pain, constipation, and wearing away at your spine, making it susceptible to injury. That’s because the way you hold your body affects how your body functions and supports itself throughout the day.

Crazy, right? Luckily, it only takes 21 days to form a habit, so this can be the start of something new for you. And even better, there are some easy tips and tricks you can use to get your posture to where it should be.

Shoulders Back

Many Americans sit all day looking at screens, computers or whatever else. The easiest way to remember to sit up with good posture during these times is to think about where your shoulders are at.

If your shoulders aren’t pushed back and down, you’re most likely sitting with bad posture. Simply push your shoulders back, roll them to your ears, and then push them back and roll them down. Engage your core slightly to gain more stamina and support.

Get Some Support

A great way to help you feel comfortable while trying to retrain your body for better posture is to have the right support.

Try putting a rolled-up towel or back cushion on your chair so it’s easier for you to sit all the way back. Using your chair as a support mechanism to align your spine and sit correctly is completely OK.

Make sure your feet are flat to the floor and your knees are at a 90-degree angle. If not, then situate your workstation to accommodate these needs. It will allow you to be comfortable but also supported.

Keep It Moving

Now when we say keep it moving, we mean it in two different ways. One is to keep it moving in the workplace, and the other is to keep it moving in your daily life through exercise.

When you sit at a desk all day long with no breaks or walks and then you sit somewhere else for lunch, you’re just helping your body train itself to have bad posture. Make a plan to take regular breaks to either stand up and stretch or go for a walk. Better yet, do both.

This will help your body get a break from an unsupported position or give you a break from focusing on sitting up straight at all times. Plus, there are other benefits that come along with work breaks from better energy, better mood, and better blood flow.

To keep it moving in your everyday life, we don’t mean you need to go hard in the gym every day, but you should be doing something either every day or every other day. This can be as simple as taking a walk around the block a few times.

Yoga is a great option for becoming more mindful of your body and helping it stay stretched and supported. You can identify moves that feel good, and it’s one of the least strenuous types of exercise you can do.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Here at the Stucky Chiropractic, we take pride in helping our patients achieve their goals through physical therapy, chiropractic care and little to no medicine.

Poor posture is one of the main things we can help with. With a personalized approach, we can help you identify not only why you slouch but the easiest course to get you out of that habit.

Reach out to us on our website today to schedule your first appointment. We can’t wait to meet you.