The human body has a natural structure that allows it to perform its daily tasks under the forces of gravity without irritation or imbalance. Because of this structure, we are able to walk, run, stand, and sit with less stress. The natural structure can be seen in our posture. The posture is a window to the form that your spine develops through the stages of growth. As we are born, our spine starts to develop a shape that will give us the stability that our body needs to resist gravity. Initially, we have one curve from being in a fetal position.
As we start to hold our head up, there is a forward curve that forms in our neck. Then, we become more mobile and begin to crawl, which causes our belly to drop down and a forward curve to be formed in the low back as well. This whole process establishes a strong structure for us to be able to stand up and walk and run. When you look at a persons posture who has this structure, from the side, the ears will be line up directly above the shoulders, and the shoulders directly above the hips. From the front, the ears should be level with each other, the shoulders level with each, and the pelvis level.
As we go through life, we are exposed to many different kinds of stresses. These can be physical stresses, mental stresses, chemical stresses, or social stresses. From the food we eat to the way we sit in a chair, if done incorrectly, our body is subjected to a lot of additional stress. This stress can cause the bones of our spine to move out of place, the core muscles that hold them in place to tighten or spasm, and our posture to be pulled out of its neutral position.
When this happens, the nerves of the spine can be irritated leading to a reduced state of function and a lower state of overall health for the body. Everything that happens in the body starts as a nerve signal in the brain and travels down the spinal cord, out the nerves, to every cell, tissue, and organ. If the spine is pulled out of its neutral position, this communication system is disrupted leading to that poor function.
It is important to practice proper posture in your daily activities. From having the right amount of support in the chair that you sit in, using proper form when lifting or exercising, and even sleeping on the right sleeping surface with a pillow that is right for your body type. If your spine does happen to move out of its neutral position, the individual joints of the spine cannot correct themselves.
Chiropractors are trained to detect, find, and remove spinal misalignment in order to restore normal nerve flow and thus improving overall body function. If you are experiencing poor posture or symptoms due to muscles that have spasms or are tight and stiff, a chiropractor should be your first choice in correcting those imbalances and striving toward a higher state of health.
