How Your Spine is Affected By Your Posture

How POSTURE affects your spine Your spine is designed around three basic curves that maximize the mechanical advantag- es for weight bearing and distribution. These curves act like arches in bridge construction, transferring the loads and distributing the stress very efficiently. CERVICAL CURVE THORACIC CURVE LUMBAR CURVE A good standing or sitting posture The center of your head, the middle of your shoulders, and the center of your hips are in one straight line. This position reinforces the three spinal curves and reduces the structural strain on the muscles, joints, ligaments, and discs. The best way to achieve this position is by elevating your shoul- ders upward and backward directly over your hips, then raising your chin slightly so you are looking straight ahead. Which Posture Are You? Mothers: Everyday tasks and housework can be physically taxing to our health and our posture. 70% of women will report low back pain at sometime in their lives. During pregnancy, 50-80% will report back pain and of that, 1/3 will claim the low back pain is a significant problem. As a woman's body adapts to her changing weight and shape during pregnancy, the spine and pelvis realign to serve as a count- er-balance. Frequent car- rying of babies or young chil- dren on the hips, can cause your hips and shoulders to become uneven. The increased weight from carrying a child can pull your pelvis for ward, increas- ing the curve to your lower back k (or in- creased lordo- sis). Forward Head Posture Uneven Hips Pelvis Forward (FHP) Kids: School backpacks were felt to be heavy by 79.1% of children, to cause fa- tigue by 65.7%, and to cause back pain by 46.1%. Pain in adolescents from postural changes associated with backpack use and participation in certain sports. Carrying back- packs on one shoulder rather than using both shoulder straps for even support can cause a pos- tural compensa- tion and result in uneven hips. Adolescent soccer players have a greater likelihood to experience upper back pos- tural issues, such as kypho- sis. Thoracic (middle back) Uneven Hips Slouch (Increased Kyphosis) Outdoors: Bending over seeding, weeding and watering, digging, carrying buckets, pushing wheelbarrows and lifting. Dowager's Hump (increased kyphosis) Uneven or Rotated Hips Round Shoulders Correcting Posture Avoid forward At night, sleep on your side or back. head posture. At the Office: Keep your cheekbones and collarbone in the same vertical plane. Take a 1-2 min Exercise regularly throughout the day. Make sure your workstation equipment is ergonomically sound. break every 30 minutes. Sources http:whatsyourpostum.com.ou/whats-your-posture httpol/whatsyourposture.com.ou/posture-health/achieving-good-posture http://www.kansaschirofoundation.org/goodposture articlehtm httpu/forahealthyfuture.com/chiropractic-health/posture-affects-back http://www.shanecare.com/question/how-does-posture-affect-spine httpolwww.livestrong.com/article/1223 negative-effects-poorposture EARA:Scoliosis Intervention INFOGRAPHIC DESIGNED BY NationalPositions Stay Ahead of the Curve™ Profitable lnternet Marketing festuing ScoliScore1