Improve Posture and Improve Health - By: Peter James Field

All of us can adopt bad posture from time to time

Sitting, standing, walking, each of us adopts poor posture now and then.

If we do it only occasionally then little will happen. But if we continue in bad postural habits then we are storing up some painful problems for the future.

On top of back pain, incorrect posture can also impact on the healthy functioning of the nervous system which is contained within the vertebral column, and this can lead to all kind of problems from sleeplessness to headaches.

Perhaps the most common postural bad habit is rounded shoulders and upper back. When we adopt this position, usually the head leans forwards and downwards, throwing the entire spine out of alignment.

Often this poor posture is accompanied by an extended tummy, arched lower back and protruding derriere.

All of these bad postural habits can and will lead on to back pain and other problems if left uncorrected.

Those with good posture will have three natural curves in the back and the bony vertebrae - or little bumps - will form a more or less straight line down the entire back.

When the natural curvature of the back is excessive then postural deformity known either as hyperkyphosis or hyperlordosis is most often the cause. Hyperkyphosis is an exaggeration in the upper curvature of the back and is a condition common in the elderly, while hyperlodosis is a similar condition but in the lower back.

Very regularly these two conditions go together. As our bodies mature and age, our muscles tend to weaken and our vertebrae or spinal discs tend to lose a degree of their suppleness. This increases the wear and tear on the spine, making it more difficult to maintain correct posture.

But these conditions are not unique to the elderly. Those who spend hours bent over books or in front of a pc monitor without good posture and seating - and without taking sufficient breaks - can also develop hyperkyphosis and the back pain resulting from this.

'Flat back' is yet another example of chronic ill posture which involves a near total loss of curvature in the back, usually other than in the neck area.

The spine is in its best and most healthy alignment when it forms something like an 'S' formation.

To check for this, hold the head in a straight, neutral position, chin in. Make sure that your ears form a line with the middle of your shoulders, keeping your shoulder blades back and chest forward. Ensure that your tummy is tucked in and your knees straight yet relaxed.

This 'S' alignment ensures that you put minimum strain and stress on joints, ligaments and the muscles responsible for good posture.

Posture can be adversely affected by a number of different things including being overweight, underdeveloped muscles and incorrect shoes.

Your posture can also be affected by the bed you sleep in. Choose a bed that is firm without being too hard and a pillow that is not too high but high enough to comfortably support your head and take the weight from your neck and shoulders as you sleep.

In conjunction with the spinal erector muscles - the spinal erectors - the muscles of the stomach play an important role in good postural health and endurance. Be sure to exercise these muscles if you really want good back health.

Stretching exercises and weight bearing exercise are also great for postural health.

If you really do want to feel and look good, invest in good posture and you will find yourself skipping through life.

How adopting good postural habits ensure that you will spring through life - minus back problems.

Peter Field is a leading British hypno-psychotherapist, with clinics in Birmingham and London, England. He is the author of numerous articles on psychotherapy, hypnosis and health; a Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and Fellow of the Royal Society of Health. For more of his interesting articles on topics such as pain control and other helpful information, please visit his website: Peter Field Hypnotherapy UK