How Poor Posture Can Negatively Impact Your Physical and Mental Health

When you consider health concerns, topics such as cardiovascular, digestive, and other common issues often come up. But there are many ways your body can get damaged that you might overlook, such as the effects of poor posture. 

If you’re experiencing aches and pains due to poor posture, you can rely on our team of physical and occupational therapists at Precision Rehab Occupational, Physical & Hand Therapy for assistance.

Posture plays a crucial role in your body’s overall well-being, and failing to maintain it correctly can affect your physical and mental health. To help you better understand its impact, we examine what posture is, the types of poor posture that develop, and the long-term effects on your body. 

Understanding posture

The simple definition of posture is the way you hold your body, whether you’re in motion (dynamic posture) or at rest (static posture). 

Any movement you make involving posture uses your musculoskeletal system, which consists of the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints, and other parts of the body closely connected to the skeleton. 

Your posture changes when walking, sitting, sleeping, and performing many different actions, and your musculoskeletal system is involved in every movement.

Perfect posture is not an entirely attainable goal, as body types differ enough that no single method suits everyone. The overall best ways to maintain healthy posture include keeping your head above your shoulders, holding your shoulders above your hips, and working to keep your lower body stable.

Types of poor posture 

There are four general types of posture, with the neutral position, where you sit or stand with your spine in a slight S-shape, considered the most beneficial for maintaining good posture. The other types are:

Flatback

When you stand or sit with a spine that is straighter than the recommended S-shape, it leads to an upper back with a pronounced outward curve. Problems like rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative disc disease, osteoporosis, or ankylosing spondylitis can cause this to happen.

Swayback

In this posture, your pelvis tilts forward, and your back leans backward, sometimes with your head leaning forward. This can occur due to prolonged sitting, physical inactivity, scoliosis, joint hypermobility, traumatic injury, or constant arching or slouching of the back.

Forward head

The most common type of poor posture occurs when the head leans forward, with the ears positioned in front of the shoulders. The result gives you a rounded appearance in your upper back. 

Long periods of time slouching and hunching while sitting or standing can cause this, along with:

• Looking down at electronic devices
• Muscle weakness in the upper back, spine, or shoulders
• Injury
• Stress

How it affects your health

Each type of poor posture is associated with different physical or mental issues. 

Flatback posture increases your risks of chronic pain, back pain, mobility loss, fatigue, and problems standing up straight. 

The swayback posture increases the likelihood of neck pain, lower back pain, musculoskeletal injuries, and mobility issues. 

Forward head posture carries the risk of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, cervical disc degeneration, shoulder and upper back pain, headaches, and neck pain.

Posture also plays a role in your mood, as you tend to slouch or slump more when you’re depressed or anxious. Many other emotions can change in how you stand and sit. 

In fact, improving your posture can help improve your mood, and people in a good mood tend to hold their heads and backs upright.

We offer a wide range of services to help you address posture issues and their effects, aiming to improve both your physical well-being and overall mood. Make an appointment at our Fresh Meadows or Little Neck, New York, location today to stand straighter and live better.