5 Ways Postural Alignment Can Affect Your Health... Ms. Naga Wasserman
Most people have misalignments but don’ t realize the effects it can have on various aspects of their health, both now and later on down the line. The body is designed to function in a particular position, hence the term“ functional design”. The load joints of the body – the ankles, knees, hips, and shoulders – should all be stacked directly on top of one another with the head centered over the shoulders, as seen in the“ blueprints of the body” below.
In this position, we are better able to handle the demands put on our bodies by activities like walking, running, jumping, and even falling. Read below to learn how postural therapy can help with just a few common health concerns.
Pain
We see pain as your body’ s way of communicating to you that something is wrong. If we try to turn this warning off with pain killers, we haven’ t resolved the issue; we’ ve just unplugged the phone so it stops ringing. So what’ s the body trying to say?
When a muscle loses its function, other muscles take on extra work and become strained, and joints experience stress they weren’ t meant to handle as the body fights for balance. As the body loses its functional alignment, we develop pain. However, if you realign the body, it alleviates that stress and gives your body the chance to heal, thereby diminishing the pain.
Injury and Fall Risk
When you’ re out of alignment, your body is unstable and cannot perform certain movements without recruiting muscles that weren’ t meant for that function. Improving postural alignment increases your balance and agility. Whether you’ re in sports or just maneuvering around the house, this can mean the difference between injury and staying upright.
Breathing
Slouching( or rounding the spine forward) decreases the amount of space your lungs have to expand, limiting the amount of air you can take in as a result. Every time you take a breath, it puts great strain on the body and you tire more easily in general. As your postural alignment improves, you may find you have more energy, better organ function, and better health overall as you’ re able to breathe deeper.
Circulation
The blood vessels work closely in conjunction with the muscles. Think of a time you’ ve been sitting, for example, and your foot falls asleep. This happens because the muscles are inactive and not receiving proper blood flow. Without stimulation through movement, we lack the circulation necessary to bring nutrients to the muscles and organs. Thus, the body begins to shut down.
Digestion
Bones and muscles support the digestive organs, and movement helps to push food through our digestive track. When these structures aren’ t providing support, however, we develop digestive issues like cramping and constipation. Incorporating movement into your daily life will also improve digestive function.
Postural therapy can improve your health, wellbeing and confidence in many ways. Maintain your posture by having the knowledge of postural therapy.
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