If Your Aches and Pains Are Caused by Poor Posture, PT Can Help
How do you find yourself positioned at the end of a long day of school or work? Are you slouching with your shoulders forward, and hunching over your computer screen? If the answer is yes, the dull aches and pains you feel in your neck and back are likely connected to your posture.
Fortunately, this problem has a solution. A physical therapist can help you improve your posture and lessen the severity of your corresponding aches and pains. If you’re ready to begin working towards a life that isn’t interrupted daily by pain, contact us today to learn more about your available treatment options.
How did my posture decline?
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, “posture is the alignment and positioning of the body in relation to gravity, center of mass, or base of support.” In simpler terms, your posture is how you hold your body.
Though there is sometimes an unfair stigma related to poor posture, know that you shouldn’t feel embarrassed for having postural issues. Very few people have perfect posture. Most people’s postures naturally decline with age, and through common bad posture habits like inactivity and slouching.
Improper posture isn’t a result of laziness or apathy either. Instead, it generally has something to do with a physical weakness within our bodies. We slouch and slump when we feel drained because our bodies (quite literally) get tired of holding us up.
Poor posture places excessive strain on your joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It also can damage many of the core muscles that are needed to keep you upright and healthy. Postural changes happen over time, throughout the years, or even decades.
How much does exercising help my posture?
Even if you exercise regularly, you may have a few weak muscles contributing to your poor posture without your knowledge. The muscles in your shoulders, back, abdomen, buttocks, and pelvic floor all play an important role in your posture. If even one of these is weak, your core will be affected, and your posture may suffer.
Your body requires a highly specific alignment to maintain proper movement of the muscles, breathing, and blood circulation. If poor posture persists, it can eventually lead to chronic conditions as you age.
Why should I choose to start PT?
Physical therapy is a great way to improve your posture. Our physical therapists are experts in movement, and valuable assets to have as you work to achieve your physical performance goals. They can help you improve your balance, stability, flexibility, and mobility, all of which will positively affect your posture.
At your initial evaluation, your physical therapist will perform functional testing to identify which weakened areas of your body are causing your pain. Afterward, they will create a customized treatment plan, tailored to your specific needs.
Treatment plans typically include manual therapy and targeted exercises to alleviate pain and regain proper function. In a study published by the National Institutes of Health, exercise for postural improvement was proven to be successful, both in enhancing posture and lessening pain among patients.
What is aquatic therapy?
Aquatic therapy is a treatment modality that is performed in water, typically in an in-clinic pool. A physical therapist typically begins an aquatic therapy session by leading their patients through low-resistance exercises to warm up the body while strengthening different muscle groups.
For postural correction, a physical therapist can conduct exercises that focus on spinal stabilization, muscle strengthening, and balance training to improve posture.
One excellent aspect of aquatic therapy is that it is highly accessible to anyone, regardless of individual fitness level. Activities and exercises that might be highly uncomfortable for you to perform on land become much less strenuous when your body is supported by water.
A few of the many benefits of aquatic therapy include:
- Assisting with locomotion and gait
- Improving flexibility, balance, and coordination
- Strength training and promoting endurance
- Assisting with gait and locomotion
- Reducing stress, promoting pain relief, and easing depression
End your chronic pain with aquatic therapy today
Find out for yourself why PT and aquatic therapy are some of the most effective ways to address your issues and corresponding back pain.
Our therapists are ready to help you meet your health and wellness goals. Contact our office today to schedule an evaluation and learn how physical therapy can help make you “posture perfect!”
