Poor posture is something that affects a large portion of the population and causes a host of different physical ailments. Even though it is up to us, and we have total control over whether we maintain good posture or not, most of us choose to slouch, slump, hunch, or lean. Poor posture can end up causing a lot of pain and discomfort, but it can also be improved by Crystal Lake chiropractors.

Why Is It So Difficult to Maintain Good Posture?

Maintaining good posture is challenging. It is much easier to let your shoulders hunch forward and your pelvis slouch back than to keep your shoulders back and keep the natural curve in your lower spine intact. Some people have structural causes of poor posture that are no fault of their own, but most have what are known as positional causes for poor posture. These include:

• Bad postural habits resulting from general laziness.
• Excessive weight.
• General weakness in the midsection.
• Muscle imbalance or spasm.
• Pain in areas of the body that prevent proper posture.
• Self-esteem issues that cause you to slouch.
• Degenerative conditions preventing correct posture.
• Over-reliance on support from a non-ergonomic chair.

Consequences of Poor Posture

One of the main consequences of consistent poor posture is pain. Your body craves balance and when you regularly place undue stress on your pelvis, back, neck, knees, shoulders, and hips you’re going to become out of balance. Over time you may develop chronic pain conditions that you may attribute to getting older or some other condition, when in truth they are from your habit of poor posture.

Get an Expert Analysis

Chiropractic doctors have the ability to analyze your posture to determine what is at the root of the problem. Some of the things your chiropractor will look for include:

• Height variance across your shoulders.
• A forward tilt in the pelvis.
• Alignment in your knees.
• Stance variations like turning one or both feet outward.
• Changes in your normal gait.
• An increase in your spinal curvature.

Once the underlying causes of your posture issues are determined, a chiropractor can create a treatment program and help you correct the problem. Along with spinal adjustments, you may be given instruction on how to sit properly, stand and walk properly, and work properly as it relates to posture.

Your chiropractic treatment will help, but it is only half the battle. You will also need to be more conscious of your posture in your daily activities and correct the bad habits you’ve created over the years. It ‘s a challenging task, but one you can master with regular practice.

Contact our chiropractic team at Crystal Lake Family Wellness in Crystal Lake today for help.