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Physical Therapy and Your Journey to Better Posture

Man holding his shoulder

Introduction

You may require physical therapy for posture alignment if you have a physical problem that limits your body. It helps you recover after an accident, muscle imbalances, improper ergonomics, or sedentary lifestyles. Therefore, indulging in posture rehab exercises can do wonders for your overall health.

If you are interested in improving your physical health, this article is for you. Reading this content should help you make the most out of postural exercises and physical therapy.

Common Causes of Poor Posture

man holding a green sacks in his head

Several factors can negatively affect your posture. Depending on your condition, one or more triggers can limit your range of motion.

Understanding these causes should help you access physical therapy for posture. Highlighted below are the most common triggers to consider.

Prolonged Sitting
The modern world has changed how people live and work. As such, many individuals live sedentary lives, sitting for hours working on a chair. Over time, these people start to slouch and develop rounded shoulders, which negatively affect their body alignment.

Smart Device Usage
Using smart devices, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones causes people to hunch as they strain their shoulders and necks. Maintaining this position for a long time leads to upper back tightness and neck pain.

Imbalances and Muscle Weakness
Having core muscle weakness or imbalanced muscles can lead to misalignment in your back or other parts of your body. Also, muscle tightness can prevent you from maintaining a natural body position, necessitating physical therapy for poor posture.

Improper Lifting Techniques
You can easily hurt your spine if you frequently apply improper techniques when lifting heavy objects.

Trauma or Injuries
An injury or trauma from an accident can affect your neck, back, or other body parts. In some cases, these problems can cause your body to lose its natural alignment.
Age: As you age, your joints and muscles weaken, leading to poor boy alignment.

The Role of Physical Therapy in Improving Posture

physical Therapy in Improving Posture

Physical therapy for posture is essential to your recovery if you suffer from alignment issues. To achieve this, you will want to work with experts who can identify your problem and offer lasting solutions.

In most cases, a therapist will offer personalized treatment strategies, leveraging hands-on techniques, stretching, and strengthening exercises. In particular, the use of targeted therapies and workouts enhances muscle balance, strengthens the body, and improves flexibility.

Beyond therapies and exercises, working with specialists helps you maintain correct postures by learning about the importance of correct body mechanics. If you live in Southern California and suffer from posture problems, consider accessing Physical Therapy in Torrance.

Effective Exercises for Correcting Postural Imbalances

Exercises for Correcting Postural Imbalances

The right physical therapy for posture offers you access to exercises for correcting postural imbalances. Experts use the following workouts to correct alignment problems.

  • Wall Angels: If you are struggling with stiff or rounded shoulders, wall angel workouts can resolve this issue.
  • Planks: Planks can help you build core strength and maintain excellent body alignment.
  • Bridges: Using bridges targets the lower back and glutes, stabilizing your lower spine and the pelvis.
  • Cat-cow: Stretch: Cat-cow stretches reduce spine tension and enhance spinal flexibility.
  • Chin Tucks: Chin tucks help you resolve forward head problems from excessive computer and smartphone use.

Regularly performing these workouts should improve your alignment and correct postural imbalances. You should consider accessing therapy from Jessica Crowder and the team if you live in the South Bay. Working with The Movement Schopp should help you overcome postural problems.

Maintaining Proper Posture in Everyday Life

Posture

When your body’s alignment is off, physical therapy for posture may be your best option. However, you must actively take measures to maintain the right body positioning. The tips below can help you achieve this.

  • Always sit upright with relaxed shoulders with feet flattened on the ground when working on a computer or seated.
  • Ensure you use a chair with excellent lumbar support that maintains your lower back’s natural curve.
  • Avoid slouching when sitting, walking, or standing.
  • Always keep the knees and straighten the back when lifting heavy items. Doing this makes it easy to live with your leg muscles.
  • Ensure you move and stretch if you live a sedentary life.

Posture-Related Myths and Misconceptions

Back posture of student

Like most things in life, there are many myths and misconceptions related to postures and what improves your body’s alignment. These points should differentiate between truth and fiction.

  • You may think standing straight while keeping your back rigid is good for you. However, this posture is unnatural and may cause discomfort and muscle fatigue. Instead, maintain a relaxed and balanced alignment.
  • Many people believe having poor posture is a permanent problem without a lasting solution. Yet, with physical therapy for posture and appropriate exercises, you can improve your body’s overall alignment.
  • If you think poor alignment only affects your shoulders and back, you are not seeing the whole picture. Almost every part of your body can suffer from bad posture, leading to lung capacity decrease, jaw pain, or headaches.

Posture and Its Impact on Overall Health

Possessing an aligned body offers you multiple health benefits, which include the following:

  • It reduces your chance of developing chronic pain and musculoskeletal issues.
  • It promotes blood oxygen level, enhances circulation, improves breathing, and boost nutrient delivery in your body.
  • Boost self-esteem and confidence.
  • Enhances organ function by letting your body operate optimally.

Conclusion

If you have body alignment issues, physical therapy for posture should improve your condition. However, before you reach out to a therapist, you will want to learn about the common causes of poor posture. Doing this helps you make better decisions about your body.

There are many exercises you can use to correct postural imbalances when they occur. Also, you can adopt healthy practices that should maintain your body’s alignment.
Learning about posture-related myths and misconceptions helps you take care of your body. Finally, learning about the impact of good posture on overall health should help you take body alignment seriously.

a man standing in front of a rack of dumbs.
AUTHOR

William Schopp, PT, DPT, CF-L1, TPI, TRS-C

Owner and Founder of The Movement Schopp

"We help everyday athletes like YOU bounce back from injuries and get back to performing at their highest levels!"
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