The Tribune

By Dr Susan Donald

Posture ranks right up at the top of the list when you are talking about good health. It is as important as eating right, exercising, getting a good night’s sleep and avoiding potentially harmful substances like alcohol, drugs and tobacco.

Good posture is a way of doing things with more energy, less stress and fatigue. Without good posture you can’t really be physically fit, because good posture means your bones are properly aligned and your muscles, joints and ligaments can work as nature intended. It means your vital organs are in the right position and can function at peak efficiency. Good posture helps contribute to the normal functioning of the nervous system. Good posture makes you feel good, your body works efficiently and you have a better outlook on life,

Without good posture, your overall health and total efficiency may be compromised. Because the long-term effects of poor posture can affect bodily systems (such as digestion, elimination, breathing, muscles, joints and ligaments), a person who has poor posture may often be tired or unable to work efficiently or move properly.

Even for younger people, how you carry yourself when working, relaxing or playing can have big effects. Just 15 minutes of reading or typing when using the wrong positions exhausts the muscles of your neck, shoulders and upper back.

Often poor posture develops because of accidents or falls. But bad posture can also develop from environmental factors or bad habits. This means that you have control. Today, posture-related problems are increasing. Three reasons are that as a society we watch more television than any previous generation, more people have sedentary desk jobs and sit in front of computer terminals, and more people don’t exercise and suffer from obesity.

A lifetime of poor posture can start a progression of symptoms in the average adult. It can start with fatigue because your muscles have to work hard just to hold you up. When you have poor posture you waste energy just moving, leaving you without the extra energy you need to feel good. Another symptom is tight, achy muscles in the neck, back, arms and legs - by this stage, there may be a change in your muscles and ligaments and you may have a stiff, tight painful feeling. More than 80 per cent of the neck and back problems are the result of tight, achy muscles brought on by years of bad posture. These symptoms eventually lead to joint stiffness and pain, and put you at risk for “wear and tear” arthritis, or what is termed degenerative osteoarthritis. Poor posture and limited mobility increase the likelihood of this condition in later years.

Doctors of chiropractic recognise the importance of spinal integrity and body mechanics for good health, and research has shown that chiropractic adjustments are highly effective. While the effects or poor posture can be serious, many problems can be corrected. If you or a member of your family has what appears to be a postural problem, you should seek the advice of a doctor of chiropractic.

• You can contact Dr Susan Donald at 393-2774