Bad habits are easily ingrained, and even if you try stopping it, it’s not always easy. Most of us don’t even realize how bad our posture is until we start feeling the pain. Bad sitting posture is pretty common, but just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s something you have to live with forever.
Why Do People Have Bad Sitting Posture?
The main one is lifestyle habits. A good number of the global population spend hours sitting in front of screens, and most of the time, we’re not even thinking about how we’re sitting.
Another big factor is the lack of movement. Our bodies weren’t designed to sit still for hours. When we sit in one spot for too long, our muscles get stiff. Weak muscles, especially in the core and back, make it hard to sit up straight, so it’s easy for you to slip back into bad posture.
For some people, stress plays a role. When stressed, our bodies tense up, and we naturally hunch our shoulders or slouch, creating even more strain on our muscles. Over time, it turns into a serious posture problem that causes pain.
How to Improve Your Sitting Posture
Firstly, when sitting, keep your feet flat. Keeping your feet flat, balances your body and prevents you from slouching. Always try to put your knees at a 90-degree angle, and don’t cross your legs because that can twist your spine.
This may sound ridiculous but your ears and shoulders must align. Say, for instance, there’s a straight line running from your head to your hips. Your ears should be in line with your shoulders, keeping your neck and spine in the right position.
In addition, sitting for too long is one of the worst things you can do for your posture. You can set a timer to remind yourself to get up and stretch every 30 minutes. There are some chairs that aren’t ideal for long work periods at the desk. If your chair doesn’t have great back support, use a small pillow or rolled-up towel to give your lower back some extra cushioning.
How to Fix a Curved Back (If You Already Have One)
There are a couple of exercises like rows, bridges, and chest stretches that can help you strengthen and loosen the muscles in your back and chest.
In addition, you can make use of a posture corrector. A posture corrector is a wearable brace that holds your shoulders back and keeps your spine in the right position.
Conclusion
Finally, if your back is seriously curved, then you need to see a physical therapist. A physical therapist will create a plan of exercises and stretches that target the specific areas where you need improvement. Bad posture is something most of us struggle with, but it doesn’t have to be permanent.
