What Good Posture Actually Means
In our previous article, “Stand Up Straight! Posture and Why It Matters,” we discussed the positive effects of good posture and the negative effects of improper posture.
BUT, what does it actually mean to have good posture? Good posture is dependent on what you’re doing. Are you sitting? Standing? Lying down? We’ll outline some simple things to be mindful of for each position:
Good Seated Posture
Your Head: Imagine you have a string coming out of the top of your head that is gently pulling your head up so that your ears come inline with your shoulders.
Your Shoulders: Relax your shoulders down and back so that your chest feels open. “Put your shoulder blades in your back pocket”
Your Arms: If you’re sitting at a desk/table, your forearms should be parallel to the ground and resting on the surface.
Your Core: Your core should be engaged as though almost bracing yourself as though someone is about to tickle you. This helps support your lower back as we tend to round our lower back when sitting which will eventually cause lower back pain and also places your neck out of alignment. It may be beneficial to get a chair that has lumbar support.
Your Legs: Don’t cross your legs. Keep both feet flat on the floor with your thighs parallel to the floor. Your knees should be just above the level of your hips with your ankles just out front of your knees.
Many of the same rules for proper seated posture also apply to proper standing posture.
Good Standing Posture
Your Head: Imagine you have a string coming out of the top of your head that is gently pulling your head up so that your ears come inline with your shoulders. OR Imagine you are a curtain rod and the top part is the top part of your head and the bottom is your tailbone. Now imagine separating the two ends.
Your Shoulders: Relax your shoulders down and back so that your chest feels open. “Put your shoulder blades in your back pocket”
Your Arms: Your arms should hang at your sides, not ahead of your hips, nor your shoulders rounded forward.
Your Core: Your core should be engaged with your belly comfortably tucked. Be mindful of the arch in your lower back as you want to maintain the curve but not be overly arched in your lower back.
Your Legs and Feet: Your feet should be shoulder-width apart with your weight evenly distributed between both feet. If you stand for long periods of time, supportive footwear and/or a cushioned mat are essential for proper ergonomics.
This is just the beginning of working towards good posture. If you are having trouble maintaining good posture, have been injured, experiencing chronic pain, muscle spasms, or headaches, an evaluation from Agape Tree Therapy may be the first step to a better life. The key to health is movement. Live pain-free, stay pain-free by booking an appointment with Agape Tree today by calling 563-265-1218.
Thrive, don’t just survive.
Stay tuned for our follow-up article, “A Posture-Friendly Lifestyle.”
Great post on the importance of good posture! It’s great to see a detailed breakdown of what good posture looks like in different positions, as well as practical tips for maintaining good posture while sitting, standing, and even walking. It’s also important to note that if you’re experiencing chronic pain or other issues with posture, seeking help from a physical therapist like Agape Tree Therapy can be a crucial step in improving your overall physical health and wellbeing. Thanks for sharing this informative post!