Having a good posture does not only make one's personality more appealing but it keeps our bones and joints in the correct alignment to keep our muscles perform its movements normally and function excellently. Maintaining a good posture minimizes pressure on the spine, thus, the chance of getting backache and muscular pain becomes minimal.
One must be aware of his or her own posture in order to have a conscious effort to correct a bad posture, which is a result of a person's habitual way of carrying the body from head to toe. Aside from a bad posture habit, a lot of factors may contribute to having a bad posture such as obesity, pregnancy, weak muscles, high-heeled shoes, tight muscles and poor work environment among others.
A good posture is not limited to standing erect but also applies to correct sitting position as well as lying down.
Body Mechanics and Ergonomics
Maintaining proper posture while performing movement is called body mechanics. Faulty body mechanics may be due to some constant stress over a long period of time and may also lead to injury. Working some adjustments in your environment to encourage good body mechanics is called ergonomics. This entails a change in work station, or doing alterations or modifications to any task or habit.
Back Pain
Our back serves as the workhorse of our body. In everything we do, our back is there to lend balance from the pull of gravity, thus, it is very prone to injury and back problems. Most adults experience back problems, making it one of the most common reasons for medical visits and missed workdays.
Most of the time, it is the lower back portion of the spine that is usually affected due to normal daily chores such as lifting heavy boxes, improper sitting position, slouching, a sudden awkward movement, or even sleeping on your stomach. Sports injuries from basketball and football, as well as stress on spinal bones and tissues can definitely cause back pain. Other more serious but rare cases of back pain involves spinal injuries such as cancer and infection of the spine. People with recurring back pains or multiple unsuccessful surgeries may develop chronic back pain.
Treatment and Medication
The good news is that back pain is easy to prevent and can be treated even at home. Simple body mechanics can help ease back pain problems within a few weeks. Treatment involves over-the-counter muscle relaxants and anti inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Some tips like constant movement is ideal for healing and quick recovery. Extended bed rest is not advisable as this will aggravate back pain. Using support braces, corsets, back belts should be consulted with your doctors first. There are available braces in the market or your doctor may ask you to have one customized. However, some medical quarters are not in agreement with the idea of using braces. Some very few cases may need surgery and hospitalization unless there is severe pain and serious medical conditions.
