Posture is the window to the spine. If you want a good indication of what your spine looks like, take a peek at your posture.
Proper standing posture should look like this:
- Chin should be parallel to the floor
- Shoulders should be even and rolled back away from your ears
- Head should be over the shoulders and not translated forward, so the spine is neutral and not leaning or rolled forward
- Arms should be at your sides
- Core, or abdominals, should be tightened
- Hips should be level and knees should face straight ahead
- Your weight should be distributed evenly on both feet
At Kinney Chiropractic, part of our examination process is a postural assessment. We also use bilateral scales to see if your body weight is distributed evenly. Drastic differences in weight distribution can be an indication that posture and spinal alignment are very off.
Poor posture can wreak havoc on your body overall. There are many benefits to having good posture. First, proper posture will reduce back and neck pain. With proper posture, there is less abnormal stress on the joints of the spine which reduces pain. Second, people who have improved posture have fewer headaches. 80% of headaches don’t come from the head, they come from the neck. If neck posture is poor, this almost always causes headaches. Improved posture lessens overall muscle tension and improves energy levels. When you are standing or sitting up with better posture you improve your lung capacity, circulation, digestion, and keep your organs healthy. Poor posture puts abnormal wear and tear on joints, which can cause injuries over time. Improved posture will improve your mood and confidence.