Do
you have good or bad posture?
As
you are reading this, how is your posture right now?
Are
you sitting upright?
Are
you slouching your back?
Have you totally sunken into your chair?
Good
posture balances the workload of our muscles, limbs, and joints, while poor
posture may cause fatigue, muscle strain, compression of blood vessels,
and pain.
Our
posture can also affect the function of our major organs too.
Our
posture represents our lifestyle.
How
we stand, how we sit, how we sleep, are affected by our posture.
So, what is good posture?
Good posture is all about keeping the natural curves of our spines when standing, sitting, or lying.
So, what is good posture?
Good posture is all about keeping the natural curves of our spines when standing, sitting, or lying.
When
these curves are in their resting or neutral state, they experience the
least strain.
Primary causes of Imbalance and postural problems are mainly due to a sedentary lifestyle...
or put another way... being a Couch PotatoPrimary causes of Imbalance and postural problems are mainly due to a sedentary lifestyle...
Ideally
(from the back view), the spine should have no lateral curvature and the legs
should be symmetrical without undueangulation at the knees or ankles.
From a side view the spine should form a smooth S-shaped curve bisected by
an imaginary plumb line dropped from the apex (or tip) of the head through
to the centre of gravity of the body.
This same plumb line should pass through the tip of
the shoulder, the centre of the hip joint and ankle joint and slightly
behind the knee joint. With this ideal alignment the body weight is
balanced over the spine and lower extremity joints requiring minimum
muscular effort. This alignment also evenly distributes pressure on the
intervertebral discs ( lie between the spine) and avoids excessive stress
on the ligaments.
Your
Sitting Position
The sitting position is where most people get into trouble with their posture. This is especially true when we drive or do a desk job.
The sitting position is where most people get into trouble with their posture. This is especially true when we drive or do a desk job.
As
we focus on the activities in front of us we tend to protrude the head and neck
forward.
And
because the body follows the head, the twelve segments that compose the
middle of the vertebral column (thoracic), and the largest segments of the
movable part of the vertebral column (the lumbar spine) tends to round
forward as well.
When this occurs, the weight of the head and the upper
body is no longer balanced over the spinal column, but instead must be
supported by increased muscular energy and placing spinal ligaments in a
stretch.
Over time this leads to fatigue
and eventually even pain in the neck and upper back. Shoulders rounded forward
which occurs for example when your car seat is too far away from the steering
wheel further contributes to this pattern of imbalance. Ideally then, the
S-shaped curvature of the spine that is characteristic of good standing posture
should be maintained in sitting as well.
Common posture problem
When a muscle is shortened for a prolonged
period of time it will become tight (which really means it will become shorter
than it is supposed to be). When a muscle is shorter than the optimal
length, it not only effects the opposing muscle but can have influence on
the entire bone structure (musculoskeletal system). Some common muscles which
cause the most posture problems.
Tight
hip flexors are major cause of many posture
problems. When it is subjected to long hours of being seated the hip flexors
become shortened. When the hip flexors are shortened they cause the pelvis to
rotate anterior (forward).
You can see the influence of anterior (front)
pelvic tilt on skeletal alignment. The spine becomes excessively arched and
the thoracic spine develops a kyphotic (rounded/hunch back) alignment.
Forward head posture can result because of this as well. Tight hip flexors
can begin to do the abdominals work, and make it almost impossible to get
benefit out of some abs workout. Tight hip flexors causes the primary hip
extensors the gluteus maximus (largest part of the bum) to become lengthened
and weak. This is because of the agonist-antagonist relationship which
means the glutes and hip flexors are opposing muscles. When the primary
hip extensors become weak the synergist (helper) muscle takes over causing
further problems.
What about Tight Hamstrings? When you stand, the muscles are lengthened. Even sitting in a good posture shortens the hamstrings. Sitting for long periods of time, will be prone to chronic hamstring tightness. There are a few posture problems associated with tight hamstrings. If the hip flexors are tight, the hamstrings will become your primary hip extensor (extend). The hamstrings are supposed to be the synergist (assist) but become the prime mover. This is called synergistic dominance which increases the chances of injury. It is easy to see why synergistic dominance increases the chances of injury. The gluteus maximus (largest part of the bum) the largest muscle in the body. If the gluteus maximus cannot extend the hip, the hamstrings which are not as powerful as the glutes are forced to do more work than they are designed for. Having a tight hamstrings will make it difficult to work and get results with your leg and glutes. Hamstrings tightness can make you prone to pulled hamstrings, and sciatica.
What about Tight Hamstrings? When you stand, the muscles are lengthened. Even sitting in a good posture shortens the hamstrings. Sitting for long periods of time, will be prone to chronic hamstring tightness. There are a few posture problems associated with tight hamstrings. If the hip flexors are tight, the hamstrings will become your primary hip extensor (extend). The hamstrings are supposed to be the synergist (assist) but become the prime mover. This is called synergistic dominance which increases the chances of injury. It is easy to see why synergistic dominance increases the chances of injury. The gluteus maximus (largest part of the bum) the largest muscle in the body. If the gluteus maximus cannot extend the hip, the hamstrings which are not as powerful as the glutes are forced to do more work than they are designed for. Having a tight hamstrings will make it difficult to work and get results with your leg and glutes. Hamstrings tightness can make you prone to pulled hamstrings, and sciatica.
Another muscle imbalance caused by a sedentary lifestyle is
forward shoulder, also called the upper cross syndrome. Poor exercise
selection can also develop forward shoulders. If you suffer from this
muscle imbalance and are not able to retract (draw back) your shoulders, which
is common in many people, you should start a corrective flexibility
program.
If you have any of these posture problems it is best to see a specialist such as a personal trainer, chiropractor or exercise physiologist. There are a few tests in a which a professional can use to diagnose specific posture problems.
If you have any of these posture problems it is best to see a specialist such as a personal trainer, chiropractor or exercise physiologist. There are a few tests in a which a professional can use to diagnose specific posture problems.
How to improve posture?
Strengthen the Core
Fix Rounded Shoulders
Corrective Flexibility
Stretching
Type of Stretching
Strengthen the Core
Fix Rounded Shoulders
Corrective Flexibility
Stretching
Type of Stretching
Static stretching is the most common type of
stretching. You gently assume a stretch position and hold it for 30 to 60
seconds. There is no bouncing or rapid movement. You should feel a mild pulling
sensation, but no pain. You should feel the stretch in the belly of the muscle,
not in the joints. A simple static stretch provide a large benefits towards
your body and posture.
Neck stretch
Wall stretch
Chest stretch
Trapezius stretch
Rotator cuff stretch
Hip Flexor stretch
Full Body stretch
Benefits of stretching
- Increase flexibility
- Better posture
- Decrease pain in muscle joint
- Enhance coordination
- Reduce stress
Action Plan
Practice good posture
Do stretches total of 20min on a daily basis
Attend Pilates classes (Optional)
Whats on next week:
Resistance Training
Sources & Images are courtesy of :
Posture
Posture1
Posture2
Image
hip
sitting
neck
Practice good posture
Do stretches total of 20min on a daily basis
Attend Pilates classes (Optional)
Whats on next week:
Resistance Training
Sources & Images are courtesy of :
Posture
Posture1
Posture2
Image
hip
sitting
neck
Learn More About Healthy Lifestyle:
WeeK 1: Healthy Lifestyles "It's Now Or Never"
Week 2: Healthy Lifestyles "The First Step"
Week 3: Healthy Lifestyles "The Food Pyramid"
Week 4: Healthy Lifestyles "Target Heart Rate"
Week 5: Healthy Lifestyles "The Benefit of Exercise"
To Contact Fitness Coach Kmaru:
Website:
Muscle activation
Facbook
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