Posts Tagged ‘correct posture’

In the UK a third of the population are suffering with back pain and up to 80% of the adult population will suffer significant back pain at some time in their life.

Back pain may be referred to the hip, groin, buttocks, the leg and foot as sciatica .The main causes of most low back pain are muscular weakness and postural strain due to being overweight, sitting too much, lack of exercise, unequal leg-length, trauma or over-exercise. Sometimes it is the cushion between the bones (intervertebral disc) which bulges (herniates) and compresses spinal nerves.

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Following any period of prolonged inactivity, gradually start regular low-impact exercise. Walking, swimming or cycling 30 minutes a day will increase muscle strength and flexibility. Pilates and Tai Chi can also help stretch and strengthen muscles and improve posture. Ask your chiropractor for a list of low-impact exercises designed to strengthen lower back and abdominal muscles.

Don’t slouch when standing or sitting. When standing, keep your weight balanced on your feet without most of your weight on your heels. Your back supports weight best when spinal curvatures are reduced.

Sit in a chair with good lumbar support and proper position and height for the task. Keep your chest up and don’t poke your head forward. Change sitting positions often and periodically walk around the office or gently stretch to relieve tension. Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes.

Sleep on your side or back to reduce excessive twisting in your spine. Ideally sleep on a fairly firm mattress.

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Tennis Elbow (or lateral  epicondylitis) affects nearly half of all tennis players at some point. Tennis actually account for less than 5 percent of all reported cases.

Golfer’s Elbow (or medial epicondylitis) is similar to tennis elbow but pain and tenderness are felt on the inside (medial aspect) of the elbow, on or around the joint’s bony prominence.

Please click here to read more information about Tennis and Golfers Elbow.

The classical Chinese explanation is that channels of energy (Qi) run in regular patterns through the body and over its surface. These energy channels, called meridians, are like rivers flowing through the body to irrigate and nourish the tissues. An obstruction in the movement of these energy rivers is like a dam that backs up the flow in one part of the body and restricts it in others. The meridians can be influenced by needling the acupuncture points; the acupuncture needles unblock the obstructions and re-establish the regular flow through the meridians. Acupuncture treatment can help the body’s internal organs to correct imbalances in digestion, absorption, and energy.

The modern scientific explanation is that needling to the acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release endorphins and other chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These chemicals either change the experience of pain or trigger the release of other substances and hormones, which influence the body’s internal regulating system. The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in stimulation of the body’s natural healing abilities.

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Sayer Clinics chiropractors and physical therapists specialise in achieving Optimal Posture. It is the state of muscular and skeletal balance that protects the supporting structures of the body against injury or progressive deformity, whether at work or rest. Correct posture involves joint position and mobility to provide minimum stress on the joints while poor posture increases joint stress and damages discs and surrounding tissues.

Posture also involves the chain-link concept of body mechanics where knee pain or headaches can arise from low back joint disorders like scoliosis, spondylosis or spondlolisthesis, all of which are specifically aggravated by poor abdominal core stability and pelvic and lumbar joint arthrosis and stiffness.

The effects of posture are far reaching, involving your psychology and mood as well as physical energy, respiratory, digestive and musculoskeletal systems.

Click here to read more about Optimal Posture and how it relates to Scoliosis & Postural Correction.