Is Poor Posture Causing Your Back Pain?

Do you suffer from back pain? If so, it may be due to your poor posture. Believe it or not, how you sit, stand, and move can significantly impact your spine and overall health. Unsupported posture often causes the loads on your spine to exceed their tolerable limit, resulting in pain. Here are some everyday bad posture habits that could be the cause of your back pain:

1) Sitting for Extended Periods

Prolonged sitting can cause your spine to adopt an unhealthy curved shape and lead to muscle fatigue. Furthermore, sitting for too long can put pressure on the discs in your back that cushion vertebrae from one another. Your back muscles can also become weak and unable to support your spine. Orthopedic surgery in Baltimore will help to correct this problem permanently.

2) Poor Posture When Standing

When standing, your upper body should be straight with your chin parallel to the ground. Poor standing posture can cause the same pain-inducing problems as sitting for too long–including an increased risk of a slipped disc or herniated disc. Standing with a bad posture places strain on the spinal column, placing it under tremendous pressure and causing pain. Good standing posture allows your body to distribute weight evenly, reducing or eliminating pain in your back and neck.

3) Lifting Heavy Objects

Lifting too heavy items can cause poor posture and muscle imbalances, which may lead to neck and back pain. When lifting items that are too heavy, your body cannot maintain a good posture leading to excessive strain on the spine. To reduce this risk, it’s essential to limit your weight in a single session and use proper lifting techniques.

4) Slouching

Slouching can cause the spine to be misaligned and strain your muscles, leading to neck and back pain. You may feel like slouching is comfortable, but it can strain your spine and muscles excessively. To avoid this pain, make sure to sit up straight and keep your head in an upright position.

Tips To Maintain Good Posture

Good posture is an essential part of being healthy. Poor posture can lead to back pain and even cause long-term damage to your spine. Fortunately, you can follow some simple tips to maintain good posture and reduce or prevent back pain.

1) Maintain Proper Posture When Sitting: Sitting with your back straight and feet flat on the floor is one of the essential tips for maintaining good posture. It’s also important to ensure that your chair supports your lower back, which helps prevent slouching.

2) Use Proper Lifting Technique: When lifting objects, you must use your leg muscles by bending at the knee and hip. This will help evenly distribute the weight across your body rather than straining your back. Additionally, always keep the object close to your body while lifting it.

3) Stand Straight: When standing, ensure that your feet are shoulder-width apart, with one foot slightly in front of the other. Also, keep your head up and shoulders back, avoiding any slouching. Finally, try to keep weight evenly distributed on both feet.

4) Take Breaks: Breaks will ensure that your posture remains good throughout the day. Take breaks from sitting or standing every 30 minutes and get up and move around for at least a few minutes.

For immediate back pain relief in Baltimore, contact Ascension Saint Agnes Orthopedics. Our ortho experts can provide customized treatment plans to fit your needs.