Are you guilty of having bad posture? What is the cause of it? How can we prevent it, or reverse it?
In this article, we talk about your posture and how age affects it. We know that there are many ailments that comes with age, and a change in posture is one of them. As we grow older, our posture can start to deteriorate due to the natural degeneration of joints and tissues in our body. Overtime, this can lead to a loss of flexibility and range of motion.
We spoke about our how our bodies age in our previous post, where our muscles starts to degenerate as young as 30 which can affect the posture as the muscle in mass and strength due to aging. A decrease in bone density can also lead to a loss of height and curvature of the spine.
Age isn’t just the only factor that causes posture changes. Other factors can include:
- Sedentary lifestyle: Sitting for long periods of time, such as at a desk job, can cause poor posture.
- Injuries: Traumatic injuries, such as a fall or car accident, can lead to changes in posture due to muscle imbalances or spinal misalignment.
- Chronic pain: Chronic pain conditions, such as back pain or arthritis, can cause individuals to compensate for their discomfort by adopting a posture that places less stress on the affected area.
- Structural deformities: Scoliosis or kyphosis, can cause changes in posture due to a misalignment of the spine or curvature of the spine.
- Poor footwear: Wearing high heels or shoes that do not provide proper support can contribute to poor posture by altering the alignment of the feet, ankles, knees, and hips.
Having poor posture can contribute to back pains and increased risk of falls due to balance problems and decreased mobility. When you have poor posture, it can place an increased stress on the muscles and joints in our back, leading to pain and discomfort. Now you understand why growing up our elders have always been telling us to sit up straight!
How can we improve our posture?
An effective way to build and maintain muscle mass and strength is of course to strength train. Your muscles will be stronger which will help in keeping your body upright, which in turn, will improve your posture.
In our next post, we’ll talk about strength training for a healthier spine. Stay tuned!
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