Posture is the way your body is positioned when you’re standing, sitting or lying down.
Benefits of good posture can include:
- Reduced risk of back pain with less stress/tension on joints, muscles and ligaments.
- Reduced risk of falling as good posture often means better balance.
- Reduced risk of injury when moving, standing or sitting due to less strain on your body.
- Reduced fatigue due to more efficient use of your body.
- Reduced risk of headache and other musculoskeletal related issues.
- Improved breathing and circulation in general allowing lungs to expand more fully and vital organs not to be compressed.
The MS Trust has lots more information on posture in the following links:
Understanding and improving your posture
If you got a taste for more, try the following exercises:
Wall slides with your back against backrest if sitting or a wall if standing. While maintaining good upright posture, slowly slide your arms down by squeezing your shoulder blades down and together.
Shoulder stretches in standing or sitting.
1. Raise your shoulders and hold for 5 seconds
2. Squeeze your shoulder blades back and together for 5 seconds
3. Pull your shoulder blades downward and hold for 5 seconds.
Side bend stretch in sitting or standing.
..... and now the fun bit
Last but not least – here is a great video from Eric Franklin about improving your posture all described in a bit more of an interesting and engaging way
