“Posture is the key to life.” – Mark Twain
“For every inch of Forward Head Posture, it can increase the weight of
the head on the spine by an additional 10 pounds.” – Kapandji, Physiology
of Joints
Did you know that 90% of our brain’s energy is used for
posture alone?[1]
That number indicates just how important posture is for our bodies, not just in
terms of the spine but also for overall health.
Understandably, poor
posture greatly affects your spinal health. This includes not only poor posture
while sitting, but also while standing and even while sleeping. Subluxations do
not only have physical causes; they can occur as the result of emotional and
psychological stress as well. At every moment of every day, you participate in
a range of activities that can strain your spine and create subluxations. It is
our job as chiropractors to make you more aware of these activities and how you
can improve your habits to avoid pain and damage to your body.
Apart from spinal
health, “Deviations in the body’s center of gravity [cause] poor posture, which
result[s] in intestinal problems, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, osteoporosis,
hip and foot deformities, poor health, decreased quality of life, and a
shortened life span.”[2]
These research
findings were confirmed again in a 2005 study that showed “abnormal trunk
deformity (posture) groups tended to score lower than the normal group with
regard to subjective healthiness and life satisfaction measures, including
subjective health condition, every day feeling, satisfaction with human
relationship, satisfaction with economic condition and satisfaction with
present life.”[3]
People with postural problems tend to be more depressed than others, experience chronic pain, may have more issues with relationships, and may even earn lower incomes. Postural distortions and a weaker spinal structure can have a major impact on a person’s overall strength and health, which can have an effect on their earning potential. These distortions can cause accelerated aging and may make you feel older than your chronological age because there is interference in the life-giving nerve supply to your organs.
People with postural problems tend to be more depressed than others, experience chronic pain, may have more issues with relationships, and may even earn lower incomes. Postural distortions and a weaker spinal structure can have a major impact on a person’s overall strength and health, which can have an effect on their earning potential. These distortions can cause accelerated aging and may make you feel older than your chronological age because there is interference in the life-giving nerve supply to your organs.
Posture is a chiropractor’s “window” to see how close you
are to the ideal spine model without even using x-rays. Beyond that, good
posture can increase physical attractiveness to others and reflects
self-confidence—and who doesn’t want that?
Don’t forget about
X-Rays!
Though posture is a fast and relatively simple method that
can be used to judge a patient’s spine, chiropractors go beyond that by
providing x-rays. Once we have done your x-rays, we can more easily compare
your alignment to the ideal spine, which—as discussed earlier—is based on
peer-reviewed research.
Spinal x-rays act as a map of your spine’s structure.
Imagine you’re driving somewhere unfamiliar. Wouldn’t it be much more efficient
to drive with a map versus without one? In the same way, chiropractors use
x-rays to discover the area(s) of your spine in need of treatment so that we
can focus on fixing your structure and getting you out of pain.
My next post will discuss the various reasons why your spine
might differ from the Harrison Spinal Model, so be sure to check it out!
Working to Restore
God’s Perfect Design in You!
