Four Myths About Bad Posture

“Stand up straight, don’t slouch”. This is something we have all heard before or even have said to others. But even though we all know that we need to improve our posture, do we really know how to improve it? There are some myths about posture that we are going to clear up, so you can improve your posture in the best way possible. From reading this you then will not have to always have your posture be in the back of your mind, nagging you.

Myth #1  

  One of the first misconceptions about posture is that there is only good and bad posture and nothing in between. This is far from true. You can have mostly good posture, but be doing a couple things wrong. Or it can be vice versa and you can have bad posture, but still have a couple things right. Thinking that there is one “right” posture can make it so you only stay in the one position and do not use your body’s full range of motion. You should maintain good posture whenever possible, but make sure that you are still staying in motion, and keeping your muscle from becoming tense. The chart below is a great example of how to maintain good posture in many different positions.

Myth #2

    Another myth about posture is that it is genetic and cannot be corrected. Some posture problems are genetic but that does not mean that you cannot correct them. If you work on your posture at a young age and maintain it, then genetic posture problems can be prevented. If you are older and have not been aware of your posture in the past, it is not too late. There are many stretches that can be done to make having good posture easier. Once you are loosened up from the stretching you can then start practicing good posture and it will become a habit for you.

Myth #3

    A worry that many people have is that sitting at a desk all day is the reason they have bad posture. Sitting in front of a computer can definitely cause posture problems, but only if you are not sitting right. If you are sitting ergonomically then you will not have pain from sitting at a desk all day. You can also opt for a desk that has sitting and standing options to help. It is also recommended that you take breaks occasionally and walk around to give your body a break from sitting.  

Myth #4

    The last common myth about bad posture is that it only makes you look bad, but does not affect your health. This is far from the truth. Having bad posture can have long-term effects on your body that can be hard to come back from. If your body is in the habit of slouching for too long it can curve and warp your spine from how it is supposed to be. This can cause a lot of pain and stiffness. Once you get to this point it is not impossible to correct it, but it is a lot more difficult. A lot of the time, bad posture growing up, and as a young adult won’t show it’s true effects until you are in your middle ages. This is why it is so important to start working on your posture now, to prevent future problems.