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| POSTURE: GETTING IT RIGHT FOR BETTER HEALTH |
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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.
Your spine is strong and stable when you practice healthy posture. But when you stoop or slouch, your muscles and ligaments struggle to keep you balanced — which can lead to back pain, headaches and other problems.
When you slump and slouch; Your lower back gets loaded with compressed forces; Your upper back gets overstretched and weak; Your abdominals become inactive; Your neck protrudes to compensate for the shift in weight; Your front hip flexors shorten and tighten; Your organs get squished, compromising lung capacity and digestion.
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| 6 Tips for Better Posture |
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To help you maintain a correct standing posture, imagine a string attached to the top of your head pulling you upwards. The idea is to keep your body in perfect alignment, maintaining the spine's natural curvature, neck straight and shoulders parallel with the hips.
1) Keep your shoulders back and relaxed
2) Pull in your abdomen
3) Keep your feet about hip distance apart
4) Balance your weight evenly on both feet
5) Avoid tilting your head in any direction
6) Keep your legs straight but knees relaxed |
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| Posture at the Desk |
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Surveys have found that a high proportion of display Screen equipment (DSE) workers report aches, pains or eye discomfort. These aches and pains can include a range of medical conditions such as RSI. Most of these conditions do not indicate any serious ill health, but it makes sense to avoid them as far as possible.
The physiotherapists at Therapeutics would be happy to help you assess and treat any postural pains or problems that you may have as well as carrying out a DSE assessment at your home or place of work. |
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| Staff Update: Physiotherapist Hazel Mellers |
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There are checklists and considerations regarding workplace posture at The Health & Safety Executive website www.hse.gov.uk where you can read or download information for yourself or your employees.
Simple changes to your work habits can make a big difference to how you feel at the end of the day and how effectively you can do your job and hobbies. Maybe ask a colleague to take a picture of you in your normal sitting/standing posture and this can help you see where you can make a change?
Here's a quote from one of my recent patients:
"The difference has been amazing, after a thorough assessment of my workstation posture, some very simple changes to my chair and PC as well as managing my time/workload more effectively has removed all my aches and pains at the end of the day. I have also started to walk at lunchtime and joined a Pilates class and feel sure that I can now manage my problem, thank you Hazel."
If you'd like to know more do feel free to call us on 023 8065 3707, and myself or a member of the physiotherapy team would be happy to try and help with your posture or back pain problems.
Have a great month.
Hazel. |
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We are pleased to announce the introduction of Yoga classes to the Therapeutics class timetable, starting early 2016.
Specific class dates and times are still to be confirmed so please watch this space for more information over the coming months.
For any questions about this please call Jo on 023 8065 3707. |
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| © 2014 Therapeutics. All Rights Reserved. |
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