How does posture impact your health?

Most people think posture is simply cosmetic.  Poor posture is not only unsightly, but has major health impacts.  A healthy spine = good posture.  Bad posture = an unhealthy spine.  It’s literally impossible to have bad posture and a healthy spine.

A healthy spine is a system at rest.  An unhealthy spine is a very inefficient system that has a high energy demand on the body.  The most common form of poor posture is Forward Head Posture (FHP).  FHP occurs from cumulative postural stress like sitting at your computer for 8 hours per day, looking down as you text your friends multiple times per day, driving your car and poor sleeping positions (stomach sleepers have the worst necks).  The other stress that causes FHP is traumatic stress like auto accidents and sports injuries.  These types of injuries are called acceleration/deceleration forces AKA ‘whiplash’.

Imagine holding a 12 pound bowling ball close to your chest.  Now extend your arms away from your body and feel how much heavier the ball seems.  There is a remarkable difference!  As we develop FHP this is what happens.  For every 1″ of FHP the effective weight of your head is increased by 10 pounds.  The image below sums up this process highlights the negative effects of this:

What’s the first thing that your dog or cat does when it wakes up in the morning?

It takes a minute to stretch.  Animals innately know that the body needs to be stretched to stay healthy.  Sometimes we humans forget this point.  Aren’t humans animals?…. we’ll save this topic for another day.

Daily stretching play a major role in maintaining health.  Just like brushing our teeth every day, the muscles and joints of our body require maintenance as well.  The great Dr James Chestnut refers to it as ‘spinal hygiene’.

I’ve been a practicing chiropractor in San Diego for 12 years.  There have been countless times someone has reflected back to their younger years and how flexible and energetic they were.  Well, what happened?  How come they used to be flexible and now they’re not?

The tissues that make up our muscles and tendons will shorten through the years.  It is absolutely essential for our long term flexibility and quality of life to stretch daily and stay hydrated.  Are you willing to invest 10-15 minutes a day to maintain and healthy and flexible body?

To receive a free copy of my recommended full body stretches simply contact me on my facebook fanpage by clicking here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/San-Diego-Chiropractor-Dr-Brian-Austin/201532926523923

Being healthy is very simple.  There are several factors that contribute to your health, but they are all easy.  Optimal health is the result ONLY when you are committed to ALL FOUR factors.  Enjoy the four factors;

1) Eat Healthy: include organic veggies with every meal, skip the dairy, sugars and processed foods.

2) Exercise Daily:  it’s time to get off your *ss!, watch your energy (and self esteem) increase.

3) Healthy Attitude: pay attention to what you read and listen to, hang out with people who GIVE you energy

4) Clear Nervous System:  your nervous system controls your health, you live your life through your nervous system, make sure you include regular chiropractic check-ups to keep a clear nervous system.

5) Have FUN!!!:  Find something that you love to do…and do more of it.  Keep your ‘fun meter’ on ‘F’.

 Dr Brian Austin