Sit up Straight

If you’re anything like me, I bet you used to hate when your mother would sternly shout at you, “Sit up straight!” Who would’ve thought 15 years later you’d be thanking her for all those annoying times she made you adjust your posture from the Hunchback of Notre-Dame to an uncomfortable, uptight drill sergeant in less than 5 seconds.

Don’t get me wrong, slouching probably holds the top spot on my comfort-zone list any day of the week; but unfortunately, this sort of comfort can cause unwanted pain and long term health issues. Speaking from experience, I used to suffer from major neck pains and minor lower back aches caused by whiplash from a car accident. This constant pain is not something you openly welcome into your life, trust me. It becomes a nuisance to do even the smallest things; from picking up an item off the floor to standing up for too long. The effects of bad posture occur gradually. Most times, it’s not something that you’ll notice instantaneously.

In a study conducted by an Australian researcher, it was discovered that your average “coach potato”, who typically slouches while watching television has reduced their life expectancy by doing so. Later, English researchers cross-referenced a similar sitting study and found that they doubled their risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, even if exercise was added to the equation. Sitting for extended periods can also cut of your circulation flow. Our body needs that movement to remain properly functioning.

Overall, bad posture can lead to a number of factors, such as lung function, gastrointestinal pains and the most common of them all, shoulder/back soreness. While I know it can be extremely difficult to break habits that you’ve become accustomed to for some time now, it’s important that you consider a few things before brushing off the idea of fixing your posture. If you’re already set in your ways and hunching over is second nature to you, it can still be corrected with Chiropractic care. Chiropractors are generally known for making adjustments that lead to better spinal positioning, leading to better health. So don’t give up just yet, there’s still hope!

Also, one simple way to avoid any future back problems is to stand up every half hour and stretch or walk around for a few seconds. This is highly recommended, specifically for those whose job entails sitting at a desk all day, like mine. I had no idea sitting in a comfy, plush, leather, rolly chair all day could be detrimental to my health.

So next time your mother tells you to “sit up straight”, you might want to listen.