9 Ways Posture Boosts Life

9 Ways Posture Really Matters and Discover How Good Posture Impacts Your Quality of Life

We often speak about posture and its connection to pain, but the benefits of good posture extend beyond physical discomfort.  Good posture is crucial for overall health and well-being.

Maintaining the muscle strength and flexibility to support good posture is our foundation for performing, thinking, and living at our highest potential.  In as little as a few minutes each day, you can make a substantial impact on your posture and make an investment in your health and longevity that will pay off for years to come.

What does that return on investment actually look like?

Let’s explore the ways good posture impacts health and movement.

• Joint Health

Proper alignment of the body’s joints is essential for smooth and pain-free movement.  Poor posture places excess stress and strain on the joints which can lead to pain and reduced mobility.  Maintaining good posture protects your joints and helps prevent the development of chronic conditions such as arthritis.

• Efficient Movement

Good posture prompts efficient movement.  With proper alignment, the body can effectively generate and transfer force, improving performance in sports, fitness workouts, and everyday activities.  And proper alignment increases the amount of time we can do these activities without fatigue and the corresponding loss of proper form that typically follows.

• Breathing

Proper posture allows for optimal lung expansion and efficient breathing.  When the body is slouched or hunched over, the lungs are compressed, and breathing becomes shallow and restricted.  This can lead to reduced oxygen intake and decreased energy levels.  Maintaining proper postures helps ensure your body gets the oxygen it needs to function at its best.

• Balance and Coordination

When our body is aligned, individual muscles work cooperatively to power, stabilize, and disburse the force of our movement.  This balance provides a solid foundation for physical activities and makes movement safer and more stable.

• Spine Health

Good posture helps to keep the spine properly aligned, reducing strain on the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and joints.  Maintaining proper alignment also helps to ensure optimal nerve function.  All of which prompts longevity, improves flexibility and range of motion, and reduces discomfort.

• Muscle Function

Muscle balance is essential for maintaining good posture.  Balanced muscle strength and flexibility allows our body to work cooperatively and efficiently.  This coordinated activity also helps to ensure overall muscle health.  Overworked muscles are at risk for inadequate recovery leading to breakdown from too much use while underutilized muscles risk atrophying overtime from inactive.

• Injury Prevention

Poor posture can negatively impact movement patterns and increase the risk of injury.  Proper alignment helps distribute mechanical stress evenly throughout the body, reducing strain on the muscles and joints and decreasing the risk of acute injuries and chronic overuse injuries.

• Stress

Good posture has been shown to influence our stress response.  Our core muscles, the large muscles that surround our trunk and spine, have been shown to directly impact cortisol production.  This stress hormone has been linked to numerous health ailments including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.

• Mental Well-Being

Good posture is connected to increased body awareness, elevated self-confidence, and more positive mindsets.  Balance also helps to create an overall sense of comfort and peace of mind and proper posture is tied to reduced levels of anxiety and depression.

We often associate proper posture with appearance – standing tall, sitting straight, and opening up our shoulders.  The truth is proper posture is not just about looking good – it’s our foundation for feeling good and moving well throughout our lifetime.

JAMA Study points to positive secondary outcomes

A JAMA study published last year demonstrated Egoscue’s superior effectiveness at reducing pain when compared to traditional medical care.  But the secondary outcomes of the study demonstrated some of the more far-reaching benefits of good posture and alignment.

Egoscue participants were more likely to feel like they had the tools necessary to confidently impact their health.

• Egoscue participants had over 3x more self-belief in their capacity to achieve a specific goal or outcome, including eliminating or reducing their pain or carrying out specific tasks or activities.
• Egoscue participants experienced nearly 2.5 times greater improvement in quality of life, a subjective measurement of happiness, enjoyment of life, and overall well-being, than those in standard care.

When it comes to health, there are plenty of things we don’t get to control – genetics, environmental factors, accidents.  Posture is not on that list.  By paying attention to your alignment and making changes to your posture, you can prevent a host of health issues and improve the quality of your movement.

Incorporating simple exercises into your daily routine can restore balance to your body and immediately improve your posture.  So, what are you waiting for?  Make the investment now and your future self will thank you.