5 Ways a Thousand Oaks CA Chiropractor Can Help With Fixing Posture

Your mom might have told you to stand up straight a lot as a kid and she was definitely right.

The way you sat in your chair back at school or walked around the house is a big part of how you carry yourself now. Your posture while standing, sitting, and lying down can have a big impact on your health.

But it can be hard to fix bad posture-especially when you're not thinking about it. That's where a chiropractor comes in.

A Thousand Oaks CA chiropractor can help you with fixing bad posture by finding the underlying cause of your problems. By correcting the root of your bad posture, you can start sitting and standing up straight without having to constantly remind yourself.

Let's take a look at some of the benefits of better posture-and how a chiropractor can help you get there.

Why is Good Posture Important in Thousand Oaks CA?

Good posture can have an immediate effect on your appearance. You'll look taller, healthier, and more confident.

But there are a lot of less visible health benefits that you should know. Here are a few:

• Proper alignment of bones and joints
• Reduced stress on ligaments
• Less risk of back injury
• Conservation of more energy
• Reduced wear on the muscles and joints
• Better mood
• Improved digestion

How do you know if your posture is bad? Typically, people with poor posture have hunched or arched shoulders, a rounded upper back, and an arched lower back. You also might notice back pain.

There are a lot of reasons you might have poor posture. These can include stress, weight gain, pregnancy, weak postural muscles, tight muscles, previous injuries, low confidence, or a history of wearing high-heeled shoes or heavy backpacks.

Whatever the case, bad posture can lead to pain, headaches, an increased risk of injury, and more. It can even cause you to age faster.

But in most cases, posture can be fixed. Treatment from a chiropractor can help people regain their youthful and healthy posture.

How a Chiropractor Can Help With Fixing Bad Posture

Good posture, which is often called a neutral spine, can help you avoid back pain or injury. It's good for your health, mood, self-confidence, and even how others perceive you. Not only that, but carrying yourself straight can keep your organs healthy and fight the physical signs of aging.

Whether you've been experiencing back and shoulder pain or you just want to fix your poor posture for a better life, a chiropractor can help.

Here are some ways a chiropractor can help you learn how to fix bad posture.

1. Asking Questions

Before the chiropractor even begins to examine your back, they will ask you a few questions to assess your posture and your lifestyle.

This is an important step because it allows the chiropractor to determine whether you have poor posture, what effects it might be having, and how they can begin to fix it.

They'll likely ask you questions about your day to day lifestyle, exercise habits, what you do at work, and where you've been feeling pain or discomfort.

2. Examining Your Posture

Next, the chiropractor will take a more hands-on look at your posture. While the initial assessment can help them identify the root cause of your posture problems, this examination will help them figure out what exactly is wrong.

Once they know what's off about your posture, they can get started on fixing it.

They'll take a look at how you stand from behind and from the sides, taking note of things like uneven shoulders, arched back, twisted pelvis, or other symmetry issues.

3. Making Adjustments

When you think of a back adjustment, the first thing that comes to mind might be the loud cracking noise that's often associated with a chiropractor.

But adjustments aren't anything to be scared of-and they tend to be very gentle and cause minimal discomfort. A chiropractor will start by making adjustments to your shoulders, including slow joint movements to get you into the best position for good posture.

These joint movements will help increase movement in the joint, reduce tension in the surrounding muscles, and will ease you into good posture with any pain.

4. Working with Tissue

While a chiropractor is typically thought to work mainly with bones like the spine, working with muscles is just as important to maintaining good posture.

When some muscles become weak, underused, or injured, other muscles will tighten up or become tense because of it. In turn, this pulls your spine or your shoulders into an unhealthy position.

A chiropractor will use muscle releases and strengthening exercises to correct this imbalance in your soft tissue. Through careful exercise and rehabilitation, it will feel more comfortable to stand or sit with good posture.

5. Stretching and Rehabilitation

Increasing strength in your weak muscles will only work if you reduce tension in the muscles that are causing poor posture.

With deliberate exercises, stretches, and muscle relaxation, your chiropractor will work with you to make sure your overactive muscles get a break. Not only will this ease some of the tension that causes bad posture, but it allows your weaker muscles to grow stronger, fixing your posture for good.

The Bottom Line

Your posture is more than just the way you carry yourself. The effects of poor posture can carry over into your physical, mental, and emotional health.

Fixing bad posture on your own isn't easy-just reminding yourself to stand up straighter won't help when there are root issues behind your poor posture. Whether it's caused by injury, stress, or anything in between, it takes a professional to help you get into the right place.

If you're experiencing back pain or other issues from poor posture, see a licensed chiropractor as soon as you can.

Looking for more tips, tricks, and advice on getting your posture into shape? Check out our blog for more!