Unlocking Better Posture Through Chiropractic Care: Johnston Iowa Chiropractor
How would you rate your posture right now?
Are you sitting up straight or looking down at your device?
Poor posture can often be more detrimental than a 55 mph rear ending. In this article we are going to talk about how chiropractic adjustments can help you regain proper posture and prevent muscle strain from happening in the future.
Understanding the Significance of Posture
In today's technology driven world, bad posture is all around us. Whether it be looking down at a tiktok, looking down a powerpoint or looking down at a computer all day, we are all looking down causing poor posture.
On the surface, looking down doesn't seem all that bad. "I'll just stop looking down" is what I hear you saying to your screen right now.
If only it were that easy.
Understanding the Long Term Implications of Poor Posture
Just like training your muscles, you train your spine with repetitive movement. Repetitively looking down can train your ligaments around poor spinal position.
This poor spinal position will lead to a straightening of the cervical curve and a stretching of all the nerves and muscles on the back side of the neck.
Wait, I thought stretching was good for the muscles...?
Stretching and rehabilitation of tight muscles can be extremely beneficial, but chronic stretching of the muscles has another name
Tension.
When we have chronic tension in the neck, this will lead to a sensation of pulling pain and can even pull the muscles out of the bone they are attached too.
Can A Chiropractor Help With Posture
By Utilizing chiropractic adjustments, we can help establish stability to the spine and decrease the inflammation associated with irritation of the nerve root. Once we get stability through the spine, we can begin to also get proper mobility.
With mobility, comes the ability to change, and that's why we started this whole process in the first place.
Without proper stability and mobility, you neck will become stuck in this reversed state, and good posture becomes difficult to achieve.
Bad Posture and What We Do To Correct Alignment
Once we have started under chiropractic care, we can begin to change the shape of the spine, specifically change the curve that is often associated with poor posture.
As chiropractors, we help fix bad posture with the use of orthotics, strengthening exercises, and chiropractic adjustments. We utilize an orthotic called a denneroll to help reshape your cervical curve.
By using this denneroll, we can entice the curve of your neck into its proper position. Just like working out, time and repetition on the denneroll will lead to positive, permanent curve correction within the neck.
Our Denneroll orthotic in use
How Improper Spinal Curves Impact The Spine
When the spine loses its natural curves, we can see maintaining good posture become difficult. Rather than the spine acting as a spring and the head a bowling ball, the spine will act as a nail and the head the hammer. Each step you take, the spine is supposed to absorb the weight of the head, but when the curves disappear, that goes by the wayside.
The body's joints are not supposed to absorb impact in that way and physical signs of pain and tension may develop. Without these curves, every step will jar the spine into the tailbone and lead to an increase in pain and dysfunction.
Chiropractors can help with posture by correcting improperly shaped curves. This can lead to muscle relaxation, posture correction, and an increase in overall health.
How Chiropractic Care Helps in Maintaining Proper Posture
Maintaining good posture requires more than simply sitting up straight. At Clarity Chiropractic in Johnston, we employ chiropractic techniques to address postural imbalances, strengthen weak muscles, and promote proper alignment.
Through careful adjustments, patients experience improved body awareness and an enhanced ability to maintain correct posture in their daily lives.
Strengthening Exercises for Good Posture
In conjunction with chiropractic adjustments, our doctors at Clarity recommends strengthening exercises to support the muscles that play a crucial role in maintaining good posture.
Strengthening weak muscles and addressing muscular imbalances contribute to the overall effectiveness of chiropractic care in promoting lasting postural improvement. We will formulate a set of stretches and exercises to help gain and improve correction specific to you.
Chiropractic Care vs. Traditional Approaches
Unlike traditional approaches that may focus solely on symptom management, chiropractic care takes a holistic approach to address the underlying causes of poor posture.
Clarity Chiropractic and its team emphasizes the importance of correcting spinal misalignments and postural imbalances to achieve lasting results, distinguishing chiropractic care as a comprehensive and effective solution.
The Connection Between Chiropractic Care and Nervous System Health
Chiropractic care extends beyond just physical adjustments; it positively influences the nervous system. Our team at Clarity explains how a well-aligned spine contributes to optimal nervous system function, fostering improved communication between the brain and the body. This, in turn, enhances overall posture and well-being.
Bad Posture and Its Impact on Self-Confidence
Self-confidence is closely linked to how we carry ourselves. As a Chiropractor, I see poor posture being associated with negative self image. Generally poor posture problems are associated with thoughts of depression, anxiety and a poor sense of self worth. Our goal at Clarity is to fix bad posture and give your mental state a boost.
Contact our office to learn if this can help you achieve hope in yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Good posture can be a boon to our health when done correctly. Below are some FAQ's we commonly see.
What is healthy posture?
Healthy posture is the position in which the spine is aligned in its natural curvature, maintaining a balance that minimizes stress on muscles and ligaments. It involves keeping the body in a neutral position, with the head aligned over the shoulders and the shoulders over the hips.
A good posture promotes optimal skeletal and muscular alignment, reducing the risk of strain and discomfort. It contributes to overall well-being, supporting proper organ function and efficient movement.
What are some things I can do to maintain good posture?
Maintaining good posture involves regular chiropractic adjustments and therapy for addressing and correcting postural issues. Strengthen core muscles through targeted exercises, cultivate mindfulness for consistent self-awareness, and integrate deliberate exercises into your routine.
Create an ergonomic workspace, practice careful exercises, and prioritize overall health, including weight management and hydration. This holistic approach ensures a solid foundation for optimal posture and musculoskeletal well-being.
What is forward head posture and is fixing forward head carriage important?
Forward head posture, or forward head carriage, occurs when the head protrudes forward from the natural alignment with the spine. Fixing forward head carriage is crucial as it helps prevent strain on the neck, shoulders, and spine.
Correcting this posture is important for reducing the risk of chronic pain, headaches, and maintaining optimal spinal alignment.
What are some exercises to help maintain correct alignment and proper posture?
No exercises are a substitute for chiropractic care, but several can help you hold alignment after an adjustment. The most important exercise we recommend to take yourself from poor posture to good posture is a chin tuck.
Chin tucks, seen below, are the most impactful exercise to instil good posture.
Can A Chiropractor Help With Posture?
We hope by now you know the answer to your question. More than any other modality, chiropractic care can help correct imbalances in posture and lead to a decrease in bad posture throughout the spine.
Contact Clarity Chiropractic in Johnston today to see if chiropractic treatments are right for you!
About the Author
Dr. Walker Porterfield
Dr. Walker’s passion for chiropractic started while he was a toddler. His mother is a chiropractor, so growing up he saw and experienced the healing benefits firsthand. As a young boy his knowledge on the human body and nutrition was extensive, along with his passion for holistic approaches to healthcare. Dr. Walker attended Indianola High School, pursed his undergrad degree from Des Moines Area Community College, and like his mother, Dr. Walker attended Palmer College of Chiropractic to receive his doctorate. During his time at Palmer College of Chiropractic, he was a teaching assistant in the cadaver lab, because of his extensive knowledge when it comes to the human body. Dr. Walker also got involved in CrossFit during his time at Palmer College of Chiropractic. This became a huge passion of his, and he can be found in the gym outside of the office. He constantly witnesses athletes that are limited in what they can do in the gym from old injuries, structural imbalances, or so much pain they cannot manage to make it in anymore. Walker loves working with CrossFit athletes and seeing their performance and recovery improve. Dr. Walker loves to read (mainly Tom Clancy books), cook exotic meals, and spend time with his wife & two dogs.