3 things that lead to poor posture and back problems
Why posture problems occur (photo: Freepik)
Rounded shoulders and slouched posture can result from everyday habits that harm the back. This issue can be corrected if addressed in time, according to the Health Harvard website.
What causes posture problems
Poor posture often develops due to modern habits such as:
- working at a computer,
- slouching on the couch while watching TV,
- spending long hours carrying heavy objects.
All these activities can make you lean forward or push your shoulders forward. This overstretches and weakens the muscles in the back of your shoulders while tightening the muscles in the front of your shoulders and chest. As a result, gravity pulls these muscles forward because they are too weak to pull them back into position.
If the core muscles in your back and abdomen have weakened due to inactivity, this can also cause you to tilt forward. These muscles are critical for lifting your posture and keeping you upright.
Consequences of poor posture
Poor posture can lead to back or neck pain, headaches, breathing problems, or difficulty walking.
The key to correcting poor posture is strengthening and stretching the muscles in the upper back and chest.
Exercises for strengthening the shoulders include scapular squeezes (squeezing the shoulder blades together for 30 seconds at a time) and rows (using a resistance band to pull the elbows back as during rowing).
A simple way to stretch the chest muscles: simply place your hands behind your back, hold both elbows (or forearms, if you can reach them), and hold the position.
It's also important to reduce activities that contribute to poor posture. Take breaks from working at the computer or watching TV, and engage more in physical activity.
Earlier, we reported on 8 ways to prevent back problems.
We also wrote about three unusual signs on the hands that indicate liver issues.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
