YOU Docs Daily
Stand Tall for Better Posture and Good Health
If you stride across a room like a young Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, your good posture will keep the muscles in your abdomen, back, and pelvis (your "core") strong and flexible -- a big boost to staying injury-free when dancing like Travolta, jogging, golfing, or biking. Need extra work on your core? Yoga will make you stronger and keep your joints younger. Try these back exercise ideas for a healthy spine.
But if you're as wilted-looking as Napoleon Dynamite, you're setting yourself up for weak muscles, arthritis, back pain, fatigue, headaches, and even a potbelly.
Luckily, you can roll back your body's RealAge if you trade in your slouch 'n' pouch for the virtues of vertical. Here’s how we YOU Docs do it:
- Hold your head up straight. Don't jut out your chin.
- Keep your shoulders down and shoulder blades back.
- Stretch the top of your head toward the ceiling. Tuck your stomach in.
- When standing, keep your weight centered. Put your hands on your hips. Don't slight your hip bones or pelvis forward or backward.
- When seated, no twisting, leg crossing, or foot swinging. Plant your feet on the floor, knees bent at a right angle and even or slightly higher than your hips. No need for a board down your back. Let your lower back curve naturally. Just don't collapse on one hip. Get tips on preventing lower-back pain while sitting.
Good posture gives you confidence and makes a great first impression. Both give you an edge, personally and professionally.
Enjoy the benefits of walking -- and don't forget to walk tall.
